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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Published on: July 1, 2014

Consistent impaired verbal memory in PTSD: a meta-analysis.

Grethe E Johnsen¹, Arve E Asbjørnsen

¹Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. grethe.johnsen@psybp.uib.no

Journal of Affective Disorders

|April 2, 2008

Summary

Verbal memory impairment is a consistent finding in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This meta-analysis quantifies the memory deficits associated with PTSD across various trauma types and testing methods.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Published on: July 1, 2014

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology

Background:

Qualitative reviews identify verbal memory deficits as the most consistent cognitive impairment in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Previous qualitative research could not quantify the strength of the association between memory impairment and PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively assess the empirical evidence for verbal memory impairment in adults with PTSD.
To examine factors influencing the magnitude of memory deficits in PTSD.

Main Methods:

A meta-analysis was conducted on data from 28 studies.
The analysis compared verbal memory performance in patients with PTSD to control groups (healthy and trauma-exposed non-PTSD).

Main Results:

Medium effect sizes for verbal memory impairment were observed in individuals with PTSD compared to controls.
Stronger effects were noted in war veterans compared to those with PTSD from sexual or physical assault.
Verbal memory deficits varied based on the specific memory tests used (e.g., WMS, AVLT, CVLT).

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis confirms significant verbal memory impairment in adults with PTSD.
The findings underscore the need to focus on addressing memory deficits in clinical PTSD treatment.
Further research is needed to explore attention-memory profiles due to data limitations.