The association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and executive functioning

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition characterised by several disturbances in an individual's executive functioning. We were interested in the link between executive functions and the presence of anxiety and depression in a clinical population with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Methods: Our sample comprised 180 participants divided into three groups: 60 with PTSD, 60 trauma-exposed without PTSD, and 60 controls. All participants were assessed on the following dimensions: PTSD, dissociation, executive functions, anxiety, and depression.

Results: Consistent with the literature, the results of our study suggest that individuals with PTSD have difficulties in executive functioning. These disturbances are related to levels of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: The severity of PTSD is positively correlated with executive function disturbances, but the observed disturbances, especially in working memory updating, can be explained mainly by the high level of depression, rather than by PTSD alone.

KEYWORDS:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• dissociation
• executive functions
• anxiety
• depression

Data availability statement

The data were collected anonymously. The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Nawal Ouhmad

Nawal Ouhmad is a doctor in psychology; she is currently working on developmental psychology, cognitive psychology and cognitive emotional regulation related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Nicolas Combalbert

Nicolas Combalbert is a doctor in psychopathology and a university professor. His research focuses on violence and mental health, and also on the cognitive functioning of perpetrators and victims of criminal offenses.

Wissam El Hage

Wissam El Hage is a Psychiatrist at the CHRU of Tours, and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Tours. He is responsible for the Regional Center of Psychotraumatology of the Centre-Val de Loire region (France), and medical referent of the Expert Center for Resistant Depression of Tours, FondaMental Foundation.