An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysfunction across multiple cognitive domains including executive functioning, attention, and verbal memory. This dysfunction is associated with negative impacts on functional outcomes (e.g., work or social functioning) and reduced r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Chronic Stress |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547019841599 |
| _version_ | 1818511762739167232 |
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| author | Jenna E. Boyd Charlene O’Connor Alina Protopopescu Rakesh Jetly Shawn G. Rhind Ruth A. Lanius Margaret C. McKinnon |
| author_facet | Jenna E. Boyd Charlene O’Connor Alina Protopopescu Rakesh Jetly Shawn G. Rhind Ruth A. Lanius Margaret C. McKinnon |
| author_sort | Jenna E. Boyd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysfunction across multiple cognitive domains including executive functioning, attention, and verbal memory. This dysfunction is associated with negative impacts on functional outcomes (e.g., work or social functioning) and reduced response to psychotherapy for PTSD. Despite this knowledge, little work has investigated the efficacy of cognitive remediation strategies in improving cognition and functional outcomes among individuals with PTSD. Objective The current study investigated the efficacy of an established cognitive remediation program, Goal Management Training (GMT), in improving cognitive functioning in a pilot sample of individuals with PTSD symptoms in an inpatient treatment setting. Method Thirty-four inpatients with PTSD symptoms participated in either GMT in addition to treatment as usual (TAU; consisting of psychiatric management, group and individual psychotherapy) (TAU+GMT; n = 18) or TAU alone ( n = 16). The TAU+GMT group received neuropsychological assessment at baseline and posttreatment, while both the TAU+GMT and TAU groups received assessment with clinical self-report measures at baseline and posttreatment. Results Paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements on measures of executive functioning (e.g., response inhibition, cognitive flexibility), processing speed, sustained attention, and verbal memory in the TAU+GMT group. Mixed-design analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed a trend toward an interaction effect indicating potentially greater improvements on a measure of the ability to engage in goal-directed behaviors while highly emotional in the TAU+GMT group as compared to the TAU group. Discussion The results of this small feasibility investigation of GMT in PTSD point toward the potential efficacy of GMT in ameliorating cognitive difficulties in individuals with PTSD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:37:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a55d9b0a474e4a43b7bc38ad263e75a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2470-5470 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:37:31Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chronic Stress |
| spelling | doaj.art-a55d9b0a474e4a43b7bc38ad263e75a02022-12-22T01:29:09ZengSAGE PublishingChronic Stress2470-54702019-04-01310.1177/2470547019841599An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress DisorderJenna E. Boyd0Charlene O’Connor1Alina Protopopescu2Rakesh Jetly3Shawn G. Rhind4Ruth A. Lanius5Margaret C. McKinnon6Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaProgram for Traumatic Stress Recovery, Homewood Health Center, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaHomewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDefence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Ontario, CanadaImaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaBackground Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysfunction across multiple cognitive domains including executive functioning, attention, and verbal memory. This dysfunction is associated with negative impacts on functional outcomes (e.g., work or social functioning) and reduced response to psychotherapy for PTSD. Despite this knowledge, little work has investigated the efficacy of cognitive remediation strategies in improving cognition and functional outcomes among individuals with PTSD. Objective The current study investigated the efficacy of an established cognitive remediation program, Goal Management Training (GMT), in improving cognitive functioning in a pilot sample of individuals with PTSD symptoms in an inpatient treatment setting. Method Thirty-four inpatients with PTSD symptoms participated in either GMT in addition to treatment as usual (TAU; consisting of psychiatric management, group and individual psychotherapy) (TAU+GMT; n = 18) or TAU alone ( n = 16). The TAU+GMT group received neuropsychological assessment at baseline and posttreatment, while both the TAU+GMT and TAU groups received assessment with clinical self-report measures at baseline and posttreatment. Results Paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements on measures of executive functioning (e.g., response inhibition, cognitive flexibility), processing speed, sustained attention, and verbal memory in the TAU+GMT group. Mixed-design analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed a trend toward an interaction effect indicating potentially greater improvements on a measure of the ability to engage in goal-directed behaviors while highly emotional in the TAU+GMT group as compared to the TAU group. Discussion The results of this small feasibility investigation of GMT in PTSD point toward the potential efficacy of GMT in ameliorating cognitive difficulties in individuals with PTSD.https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547019841599 |
| spellingShingle | Jenna E. Boyd Charlene O’Connor Alina Protopopescu Rakesh Jetly Shawn G. Rhind Ruth A. Lanius Margaret C. McKinnon An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Chronic Stress |
| title | An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_full | An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_fullStr | An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_short | An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
| title_sort | open label feasibility trial examining the effectiveness of a cognitive training program goal management training in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547019841599 |
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