A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation in Improving Memory Function in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have a detrimental effect on a patient's memory function. Memory problems are common after PTSD and can cause problems with a patient's day-to-day life. Cognitive rehabilitation is considered an effective treatment for patients with PTSD who want to improve cognitive memory. We searched keywords in electronic databases to find studies that looked into the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on memory function in patients with PTSD. This report is based on data from four studies with double-blind and placebo-controlled experiments totaling 198 participants. Effect size estimates were calculated using a mixed-effects meta-analysis for memory function. During cognitive rehabilitation, patients with PTSD demonstrated gains in memory in a variety of ways. Our results pointed to the need for further research into the most promising interventions for improving memory function in patients with PTSD. Furthermore, well-designed studies with large sample sizes are needed to confirm our results and determine the magnitude of the problem.