BACKGROUND: Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with disturbances in verbal memory, studies examining executive functioning in PTSD show mixed results. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare executive functioning in patients with current PTSD and controls without any psychiatric disorder. Standard mean differences (SMD) in executive functioning scores were calculated using random-effects models. Covariates were added to examine whether differences exist between subgroups. RESULTS: Across 18 studies, 1080 subjects were included. In comparison with 431 exposed controls and 227 healthy controls, 422 people with PTSD showed significantly impaired executive functioning. Subgroup analyses revealed more pronounced differences between PTSD patients and exposed controls than healthy controls. Male gender, higher age, war trauma, and higher severity of co-morbid depressive symptoms were related to poorer executive functioning in PTSD patients compared to exposed controls. LIMITATIONS: Due to insufficient data and heterogeneity, not all subgroup differences or characteristics could be taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, PTSD patients were found to show impaired executive functioning. Future research should further elucidate the subgroup effects and focus on clinical implications with regard to daily functioning and treatment outcome.
BACKGROUND: Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with disturbances in verbal memory, studies examining executive functioning in PTSD show mixed results. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare executive functioning in patients with current PTSD and controls without any psychiatric disorder. Standard mean differences (SMD) in executive functioning scores were calculated using random-effects models. Covariates were added to examine whether differences exist between subgroups. RESULTS: Across 18 studies, 1080 subjects were included. In comparison with 431 exposed controls and 227 healthy controls, 422 people with PTSD showed significantly impaired executive functioning. Subgroup analyses revealed more pronounced differences between PTSDpatients and exposed controls than healthy controls. Male gender, higher age, war trauma, and higher severity of co-morbid depressive symptoms were related to poorer executive functioning in PTSDpatients compared to exposed controls. LIMITATIONS: Due to insufficient data and heterogeneity, not all subgroup differences or characteristics could be taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, PTSDpatients were found to show impaired executive functioning. Future research should further elucidate the subgroup effects and focus on clinical implications with regard to daily functioning and treatment outcome.
Authors: J Cobb Scott; Georg E Matt; Kristen M Wrocklage; Cassandra Crnich; Jessica Jordan; Steven M Southwick; John H Krystal; Brian C Schweinsburg Journal: Psychol Bull Date: 2014-11-03 Impact factor: 17.737
Authors: Adrienne J Heinz; David L Pennington; Nicole Cohen; Brandi Schmeling; Brooke A Lasher; Emily Schrodek; Steven L Batki Journal: Mil Med Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 1.437
Authors: Erika J Wolf; Karen S Mitchell; Mark W Logue; Clinton T Baldwin; Annemarie F Reardon; Alison Aiello; Sandro Galea; Karestan C Koenen; Monica Uddin; Derek Wildman; Mark W Miller Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2014-08
Authors: Milena Girotti; Samantha M Adler; Sarah E Bulin; Elizabeth A Fucich; Denisse Paredes; David A Morilak Journal: Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry Date: 2017-07-06 Impact factor: 5.067
Authors: Allison G Harvey; Jason Lee; Rita L Smith; Nicole B Gumport; Steven D Hollon; Sophia Rabe-Hesketh; Kerrie Hein; Michael R Dolsen; Kirsten L Haman; Jennifer C Kanady; Monique A Thompson; Deidre Abrons Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2016-04-02
Authors: Stefanie Russman Block; Anthony P King; Rebecca K Sripada; Daniel H Weissman; Robert Welsh; Israel Liberzon Journal: Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 3.282
Authors: Julianne C Flanagan; Anne Hand; Amber M Jarnecke; Megan M Moran-Santa Maria; Kathleen T Brady; Jane E Joseph Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2018-08 Impact factor: 3.157