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Neuropsychological processes in post-traumatic stress disorder
1Bronx VA Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road (116A), Bronx, NY 10468, USA. julia.golier@med.va.gov
The Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|July 26, 2002
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves lasting changes in attention and memory. These cognitive deficits in trauma survivors may be risk factors for or consequences of PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a unique symptom cluster.
- Persistent alterations in attention and memory are hypothesized as fundamental to PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review the literature on the neuropsychology of PTSD.
- Examine the relevance of neuropsychological alterations to PTSD's phenomenology, clinical presentation, and biology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of neuropsychological studies in PTSD.
- Analysis of attention and memory deficits in trauma survivors with PTSD.
Main Results:
- Neuropsychological alterations in attention and memory are evident in PTSD.
- Deficits may relate to processing trauma-related or neutral stimuli.
- The extent to which these deficits are risk factors or consequences of PTSD is explored.
Conclusions:
- Neuropsychological deficits are integral to understanding PTSD.
- Findings have implications for PTSD course and pathophysiology.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of cognitive alterations.