Published in:
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.