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Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports 11/2018

01-11-2018 | Disaster Psychiatry: Trauma, PTSD, and Related Disorders (MJ Friedman, Section Editor)

Neurocognitive and Information Processing Biases in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Authors: Jennifer J. Vasterling, Kimberly A. Arditte Hall

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 11/2018

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

We review recent research addressing neurocognitive and information processing abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including studies informing direction of causality. We additionally consider neurocognition in the context of co-morbid mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychosocial treatments for PTSD.

Recent Findings

Learning, memory, attention, inhibitory functions, and information processing biases frequently accompany PTSD, reflecting potential bi-directional relationships with PTSD. Although mild TBI is associated with increased risk of PTSD development and maintenance, TBI does not typically contribute significantly to sustained neurocognitive deficits in individuals with PTSD. Whereas better learning and memory is associated with mildly enhanced response to psychosocial interventions, such interventions may also improve neurocognitive performance and can be effectively provided to patients with TBI history.

Summary

PTSD is associated with cognitive abnormalities in processing both emotionally relevant and emotionally neutral information and, although mild, may underlie some PTSD symptom expression.
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Metadata
Title
Neurocognitive and Information Processing Biases in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors
Jennifer J. Vasterling
Kimberly A. Arditte Hall
Publication date
01-11-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 11/2018
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0964-1

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