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Comparing Cognitive Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma

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Book cover Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

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Abstract

Attentional, executive, and memory deficits have been described in PTSD, as well as emotional cognitive biases. Many findings, however, are controversial and conflicting. Here, we describe strategies for outlining a cognitive profile in PTSD. Though difficult to carry out, longitudinal and monozygotic twin studies are the best designs for measuring the cognitive effects of stress, trauma, and PTSD. Cross-sectional studies may have their reliability improved by the comparison of three groups: trauma victims who developed PTSD, trauma victims without PTSD, and healthy controls not exposed to trauma. Studies should also be homogeneous regarding type of trauma and neuropsychological instruments.

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Abbreviations

APA-DSM-5:

American Psychiatric Association’s – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition

APT:

Attentional probe task

CNS:

Central nervous system

EST:

Emotional Stroop test

GAD:

Generalized anxiety disorder

HC:

Healthy control group of subjects who did not suffer traumatic experiences

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

SCNT:

Stroop color-naming test

PTSD+:

Subjects who were exposed to traumatic events and developed PTSD symptoms and consequent diagnosis

PTSD−:

Subjects who were victims of trauma without being diagnosed with PTSD

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Guarará, 529 – conj. 51, Jardim Paulista, 01425-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Mariana Kneese Flaks

  2. Department of Psychology – Experimental Psychology, Psychology Institute, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Mello de Moraes, 1721, Bloco A, Sala C6, Butantã, SP, 05508-030, Brazil

    Pedro Fonseca Zuccolo

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Institute, University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, SP, 05403-010, Brazil

    Francisco Lotufo-Neto

Authors
  1. Mariana Kneese Flaks
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  2. Pedro Fonseca Zuccolo
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  3. Francisco Lotufo-Neto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariana Kneese Flaks .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. FactyofLifeSci&Med,Diabts&NutrnSciRshDiv, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. DepartofBiomedicalSci,SchoolofLifeScienc, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Flaks, M.K., Zuccolo, P.F., Lotufo-Neto, F. (2016). Comparing Cognitive Aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08359-9_79

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