Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Functioning Deficits in Veterans With PTSD (CCTPTSD)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder focused on measuring PTSD, Cognitive Function
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Eligible Veterans must meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD with evidence-based PTSD treatment participation within the past 2 years.
- Must have an individual mental health provider/case manager assigned for coordination of care and management of crises as well as provision of treatment as usual if Veteran is randomly assigned to this condition.
- Report subjective cognitive complaints, such as problems with memory, attention/concentration, and executive function (e.g., planning, organization, problem-solving, decision-making).
- Referring provider observes mild cognitive problems that interfere with daily life (e.g., forgetting appointments or medications, poor performance at work or school, difficulty remembering information, trouble focusing in treatment sessions, trouble following through on goals).
- Fluent English speaker.
- Able to read and write and provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- No history of traumatic brain injury (of any severity) or another major medical condition likely to significantly impact cognitive functioning such as stroke, MS, Parkinson's, or a brain tumor.
- Do not meet criteria for bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder. Do not have a diagnosis of a substance dependence disorder within the past 30 days.
- Do not have active suicidal intent indicating significant clinical risk (which would suggest that a treatment targeting suicidal intent is indicated).
- Cognitive problems are not severe (i.e., no dementia). Cognitive problems do NOT interfere with a Veteran's overall ability to live independently or care for him/herself.
- Not currently participating in any type of brain stimulation treatment.
- No significant auditory/visual impairments.
Sites / Locations
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, ORRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT)
Treatment as Usual (TAU)
Compensatory Cognitive Training draws from the theoretical literature on compensatory strategy training for other cognitively impaired populations (e.g., Huckans et al., 2013; Twamley et al., 2010; Storzbach et al., 2016). It is a rehabilitation model that aims to teach individuals strategies that allow them to work around cognitive deficits. Consistent with this model and the expert recommendations for civilians and Service members with TBI (Cicerone, 2011), manualized CCT treatment provides training in compensatory attention and learning/memory skills, formal problem-solving strategies applied to daily problems, and the use of external aids such as calendar systems and assistive devices to promote completion of daily tasks (Storzbach et al., 2016).
All TAU participants have an ongoing VA mental health provider and received ongoing mental health care during the course of the study (generally weekly individual or group sessions focusing on evidence-based PTSD treatment).