High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel

IntroductionEvidence suggests that executive function (EF) may play a key role in development of PTSD, possibly influenced by factors such as trauma type and timing. Since EF can be improved through intervention, it may be an important target for promoting resilience to trauma exposure. However, mor...

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Main Authors: Sabrina R. Liu, Tyler M. Moore, Ruben C. Gur, Caroline Nievergelt, Dewleen G. Baker, Victoria Risbrough, Dean T. Acheson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1181055/full
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author Sabrina R. Liu
Tyler M. Moore
Ruben C. Gur
Caroline Nievergelt
Caroline Nievergelt
Dewleen G. Baker
Dewleen G. Baker
Victoria Risbrough
Victoria Risbrough
Dean T. Acheson
Dean T. Acheson
author_facet Sabrina R. Liu
Tyler M. Moore
Ruben C. Gur
Caroline Nievergelt
Caroline Nievergelt
Dewleen G. Baker
Dewleen G. Baker
Victoria Risbrough
Victoria Risbrough
Dean T. Acheson
Dean T. Acheson
author_sort Sabrina R. Liu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEvidence suggests that executive function (EF) may play a key role in development of PTSD, possibly influenced by factors such as trauma type and timing. Since EF can be improved through intervention, it may be an important target for promoting resilience to trauma exposure. However, more research is needed to understand the relation between trauma exposure, EF, and PTSD. The goal of this study was to improve understanding of EF as a potential antecedent or protective factor for the development of PTSD among military personnel.MethodIn a cohort of U.S. Marines and Navy personnel (N = 1,373), the current study tested the association between exposure to traumatic events (pre-deployment and during deployment) and PTSD severity, and whether EF moderated these associations. Three types of pre-deployment trauma exposure were examined: cumulative exposure, which included total number of events participants endorsed as having happened to them, witnessed, or learned about; direct exposure, which included total number of events participants endorsed as having happened to them; and interpersonal exposure, which included total number of interpersonally traumatic events participants’ endorsed. EF was measured using the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery.ResultsEF was associated with less PTSD symptom severity at pre-deployment, even when adjusting for trauma exposure, alcohol use, traumatic brain injury, and number of years in the military. EF also moderated the relation between cumulative trauma exposure and interpersonal trauma exposure and PTSD, with higher EF linked to a 20 and 33% reduction in expected point increase in PTSD symptoms with cumulative and interpersonal trauma exposure, respectively. Finally, higher pre-deployment EF was associated with reduced PTSD symptom severity at post-deployment, independent of deployment-related trauma exposure and adjusting for pre-deployment PTSD.ConclusionOur results suggest that EF plays a significant, if small role in the development of PTSD symptoms after trauma exposure among military personnel. These findings provide important considerations for future research and intervention and prevention, specifically, incorporating a focus on improving EF in PTSD treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-e341ae42d36d4646ae84e2e0db7395fd2023-09-26T01:37:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-09-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11810551181055High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnelSabrina R. Liu0Tyler M. Moore1Ruben C. Gur2Caroline Nievergelt3Caroline Nievergelt4Dewleen G. Baker5Dewleen G. Baker6Victoria Risbrough7Victoria Risbrough8Dean T. Acheson9Dean T. Acheson10Department of Human Development, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesCenter of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United StatesCenter of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United StatesCenter of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United StatesCenter of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United StatesIntroductionEvidence suggests that executive function (EF) may play a key role in development of PTSD, possibly influenced by factors such as trauma type and timing. Since EF can be improved through intervention, it may be an important target for promoting resilience to trauma exposure. However, more research is needed to understand the relation between trauma exposure, EF, and PTSD. The goal of this study was to improve understanding of EF as a potential antecedent or protective factor for the development of PTSD among military personnel.MethodIn a cohort of U.S. Marines and Navy personnel (N = 1,373), the current study tested the association between exposure to traumatic events (pre-deployment and during deployment) and PTSD severity, and whether EF moderated these associations. Three types of pre-deployment trauma exposure were examined: cumulative exposure, which included total number of events participants endorsed as having happened to them, witnessed, or learned about; direct exposure, which included total number of events participants endorsed as having happened to them; and interpersonal exposure, which included total number of interpersonally traumatic events participants’ endorsed. EF was measured using the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery.ResultsEF was associated with less PTSD symptom severity at pre-deployment, even when adjusting for trauma exposure, alcohol use, traumatic brain injury, and number of years in the military. EF also moderated the relation between cumulative trauma exposure and interpersonal trauma exposure and PTSD, with higher EF linked to a 20 and 33% reduction in expected point increase in PTSD symptoms with cumulative and interpersonal trauma exposure, respectively. Finally, higher pre-deployment EF was associated with reduced PTSD symptom severity at post-deployment, independent of deployment-related trauma exposure and adjusting for pre-deployment PTSD.ConclusionOur results suggest that EF plays a significant, if small role in the development of PTSD symptoms after trauma exposure among military personnel. These findings provide important considerations for future research and intervention and prevention, specifically, incorporating a focus on improving EF in PTSD treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1181055/fullexecutive functionPTSDposttraumatic stresstraumamilitarydeployment
spellingShingle Sabrina R. Liu
Tyler M. Moore
Ruben C. Gur
Caroline Nievergelt
Caroline Nievergelt
Dewleen G. Baker
Dewleen G. Baker
Victoria Risbrough
Victoria Risbrough
Dean T. Acheson
Dean T. Acheson
High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
Frontiers in Psychology
executive function
PTSD
posttraumatic stress
trauma
military
deployment
title High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
title_full High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
title_fullStr High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
title_full_unstemmed High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
title_short High executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male U.S. military personnel
title_sort high executive functioning is associated with reduced posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure among male u s military personnel
topic executive function
PTSD
posttraumatic stress
trauma
military
deployment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1181055/full
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