N/A
Completed N=110
Cognition and Psychotherapy in PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03641924 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
110
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Change in PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) — 9.25; 11.94; 15.91 change in units on a scale
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among combat Veterans and is a substantial public health burden. Several psychotherapies, including cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy, have been recommended as efficacious for the treatment of PTSD and are being disseminated nationally in the VA Healthcare System. Yet many individuals show limited benefit from such treatments. Accumulating evidence indicates that episodic memory deficits may be one factor limiting psychotherapy treatment efficacy in PTSD. The proposed study will determine whether verbal memory is a specific predictor of CPT outcomes in PTSD, including both symptom reductions and functional outcomes. The study will also determine the pathways by which memory functioning affects treatment outcomes by examining relationships between memory functioning, treatment engagement, recall of treatment content, and illness course. More specifically, analyses will examine whether memory for treatment content affects the relationship between memory functioning and treatment outcomes.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change in PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) |
9.25; 11.94; 15.91 | — |
| PRIMARY Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS-SR) |
0.14; 0.10; 0.38 | — |
| SECONDARY Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey Mental Component Summary (VR-12 MCS) |
1.26; 0.32; 0.39 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- DSM-5 criteria for PTSD via the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
- Willing to initiate CPT
Exclusion Criteria
- Substance use disorder (moderate or above) not in remission for >1 mo
- Severe psychiatric illness (e.g., psychosis)
- Significant current suicidal or homicidal intent, including a specific plan
- Dementia, neurological disorder, or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI; i.e., loss of consciousness > 24h)
- Inability to speak or read English
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03641924). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.