Cognition improvement in U.S. veterans undergoing treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial

Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although treatments effectively reduce core PTSD symptoms, limited research has examined whether associated cognitive impairments improve following treatment. This study investigated cognitive changes in veterans receiving treatment for PTSD and explored the associations between cognitive improvement and PTSD symptom reduction. U.S. veterans (N = 85) with clinically significant PTSD symptoms were randomized to receive either cognitive processing therapy (CPT; n = 44) or Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY; n = 41) in a noninferiority trial. Cognitive function was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Following treatment, participants showed significant improvements in episodic visual memory, d = 0.51, p < .001; motor learning, d = 0.57, p < .001; and visual sustained attention, d = 0.37, p = .005. There were no significant differences in cognitive improvement between the CPT and SKY groups. Changes in overall cognitive function were significantly correlated with PTSD symptom reductions across both treatment groups. Regardless of treatment, cognitive function improved alongside PTSD symptom reduction. These findings provide evidence that treating PTSD not only alleviates PTSD symptoms but may also improve associated cognitive function.