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Journal article
Cognition improvement in U.S. veterans undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial
Journal of traumatic stress, Early View
2025
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although treatments effectively reduce core PTSD symptoms, limited research has examined whether associated cognitive impairments improve following treatment. This study investigated cognitive changes in veterans receiving treatment for PTSD and explored the associations between cognitive improvement and PTSD symptom reduction. U.S. veterans (N = 85) with clinically significant PTSD symptoms were randomized to receive either cognitive processing therapy (CPT; n = 44) or Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY; n = 41) in a noninferiority trial. Cognitive function was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Following treatment, participants showed significant improvements in episodic visual memory, d = 0.51, p < .001; motor learning, d = 0.57, p < .001; and visual sustained attention, d = 0.37, p = .005. There were no significant differences in cognitive improvement between the CPT and SKY groups. Changes in overall cognitive function were significantly correlated with PTSD symptom reductions across both treatment groups. Regardless of treatment, cognitive function improved alongside PTSD symptom reduction. These findings provide evidence that treating PTSD not only alleviates PTSD symptoms but may also improve associated cognitive function.Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although treatments effectively reduce core PTSD symptoms, limited research has examined whether associated cognitive impairments improve following treatment. This study investigated cognitive changes in veterans receiving treatment for PTSD and explored the associations between cognitive improvement and PTSD symptom reduction. U.S. veterans (N = 85) with clinically significant PTSD symptoms were randomized to receive either cognitive processing therapy (CPT; n = 44) or Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY; n = 41) in a noninferiority trial. Cognitive function was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Following treatment, participants showed significant improvements in episodic visual memory, d = 0.51, p < .001; motor learning, d = 0.57, p < .001; and visual sustained attention, d = 0.37, p = .005. There were no significant differences in cognitive improvement between the CPT and SKY groups. Changes in overall cognitive function were significantly correlated with PTSD symptom reductions across both treatment groups. Regardless of treatment, cognitive function improved alongside PTSD symptom reduction. These findings provide evidence that treating PTSD not only alleviates PTSD symptoms but may also improve associated cognitive function.
Details
- Title
- Cognition improvement in U.S. veterans undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial
- Authors/Creators
- Zulkayda Mamat - VA Palo Alto Health Care SystemDanielle C Mathersul - Murdoch UniversityPeter J Bayley - VA Palo Alto Health Care System
- Publication Details
- Journal of traumatic stress, Early View
- Publisher
- Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
- Number of pages
- 10
- Identifiers
- 991005840052907891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology; Personalised Medicine Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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