Executive functioning

What is executive functioning in PTSD?

Executive functions are a group of cognitive processes including control, mental flexibility, planning, inhibition, decision-making, initiation, abstraction, self-monitoring, and pursuit of goals. Executive functions are important in situations involving error correction and behaviour evaluation in response to environmental feedback.

What is the evidence for executive functioning?

Moderate to high quality evidence found poorer executive functioning in adults and children with PTSD compared to people without the disorder who were, or who were not, exposed to trauma. There were no significant associations between symptom severity and executive functioning.

August 2021

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Last updated at: 2:51 pm, 16th March 2022
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