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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Psychol.

Sec. Neuropsychology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577026

Neurocognitive training for PTSD

Provisionally accepted
Lena  GoldschmidtLena Goldschmidt1*Patric  MuschnerPatric Muschner1*Luisa  Sophie GröningLuisa Sophie Gröning1Gerd-Dieter  WillmundGerd-Dieter Willmund2Martina  PiefkeMartina Piefke1
  • 1Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
  • 2Department for Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Military Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid depression often experience neurocognitive deficits. While computer-based neurocognitive training (c-bnt) has shown benefits in primary depression, its efficacy for PTSD remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of c-bnt on PTSD severity, comorbid depression, and neurocognitive functions. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, PubPsych) from February to June 2025, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving PTSD and c-bnt. Bias risk was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool, and effect sizes were calculated with Cohen's d. Heterogeneity was measured using I 2 . The review, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023444417), included eight studies, with five providing meta-analyses data (n = 221).Although c-bnt led to a small reduction (d = -0.21) on PTSD symptoms, this effect was not statistically significant (p = .31). Comorbid depression showed inconsistent improvements, with no significant overall effect (d = -0.10). A systematic review of neurocognitive functions, covering six studies (n = 220), showed mixed results for cognitive flexibility and working memory, but no significant improvements in inhibition.These findings suggest that c-bnt may contribute to reductions in PTSD symptoms and potentially benefit comorbid depression and neurocognitive functions, particularly working memory and cognitive flexibility. However, the small number of studies, moderate heterogeneity, and methodological diversity highlight the need for further research. C-bnt is a potentially promising, cost-effective treatment that warrants exploration as an adjunctive therapy for PTSD.

Keywords: posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma treatment, Depression, Affective disorder, Executive function training, adjuvant therapy, Meta-analysis, Systematic review

Received: 14 Feb 2025; Accepted: 29 Jul 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Goldschmidt, Muschner, Gröning, Willmund and Piefke. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Lena Goldschmidt, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
Patric Muschner, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany

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