Neuropsychology of PTSD

Jennifer J. Vasterling, PhD, is the Associate Director for Research for the Department of Veterans Affairs South Central Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center and is a clinical professor of psychiatry and neurology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Vasterling's research has focused on the application of neuropsychological assessment methods to the study of PTSD in military veterans and on examination of the neuropsychological outcomes of military deployment.Chris R. Brewin, PhD, is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology at University College London. His clinical specialization is in the treatment of PTSD. Dr. Brewin is the author of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Malady or Myth? (2003).

This is a scholarly yet highly readable book that makes the neuropsychology of PTSD accessible to both neuropsychologists and non-neuropsychologists. Up-to-date reviews include good summaries and discussions of clinical implications. This is a 'must read' for PTSD researchers and clinicians, especially those in the VA system and trauma centers, who are faced with desperate patients every day. This is the type of work that will eventually improve our assessment and treatment of these patients.--Kathleen Y. Haaland, PhD, New Mexico VA Healthcare System and University of New Mexico School of MedicineA powerful synthesis of the cognitive neuroscience of PTSD, this text integrates scientific and clinical findings across a wide spectrum of disciplines. These reviews will undoubtedly stimulate future discourse and scientific work, permitting an expansion of knowledge on the disabling condition of PTSD. The editors have assembled an outstanding group of experienced and thoughtful contributors to summarize the extant knowledge base and point the field in new and exciting directions.--Terence M. Keane, PhD, VA Boston Healthcare SystemThis volume explores how the disruption of the information processing systems of the brain is central to understanding the psychopathology of trauma-related syndromes. Its strength is that it elucidates basic neuroscience concepts that are important to understanding both the etiology and phenomenology of PTSD. Against this background there is an inviting discussion of treatment issues, which are well-linked back to the basic psychobiology. Bringing together eminent experts in the field, this book will serve as a primary reference for clinicians and researchers alike.--Alexander C. McFarlane, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, AustraliaBecause this book addresses a cardinal and often-neglected topic, I read it with the utmost curiosity--and found it exceptionally well composed, instructive, and thought-provoking. The editors have assembled the best experts in the field, who present their work in a style that is a pleasure to read. The book masterfully covers current knowledge and views and never becomes redundant. I warmly recommend this book to clinicians, scholars, and students; indeed, to anyone who has been waiting for a fair, thoughtful, and balanced overview of this important area.--Arieh Y. Shalev, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, Israel- This new book fills a gap in the literature on PTSD. It does so by providing a balanced view of the accumulating neuropsychological evidence in an accessible format. The combination of its presentation and content make it eminently readable. --International Review of Psychiatry, 5/22/2005

• PrefaceI. Background and Context1. Epidemiological and Methodological Issues in Neuropsychological Research on PTSD, Lisa M. Duke and Jennifer J. VasterlingII. Biological Perspectives2. Neurobiological and Neurocognitive Alterations in PTSD: A Focus on Norepinephrine, Serotonin, and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, Steven M. Southwick, Ann Rasmusson, Jill Barron, and Amy Arnsten3. Structural and Functional Anatomy of PTSD: Findings from Neuroimaging Research, Lisa M. Shin, Scott L. Rauch, and Roger K. Pitman4. Electrophysiology of PTSD, Linda J. Metzger, Mark W. Gilbertson, and Scott P. OrrIII. Cognitive and Information-Processing Perspectives5. Information-Processing Biases in PTSD, Joseph I. Constans6. Encoding and Retrieval of Traumatic Memories, Chris R. BrewinIV. Developmental and Population-Specific Perspectives 7. Early Trauma Exposure and the Brain, Michael D. De Bellis, Stephen R. Hooper, and Jennifer L. Sapia8. Neuropsychological Findings in Adults with PTSD, Jennifer J. Vasterling and Kevin Brailey9. Learning and Memory in Aging Trauma Survivors with PTSD, Rachel Yehuda, Karina Stavitsky, Lisa Tischler, Julia A. Golier, and Philip D. Harvey10. PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, Allison G. Harvey, Michael D. Kopelman, and Chris R. BrewinV. Clinical Applications11. Clinical Neuropsychological Evaluation, Jennifer J. Vasterling and Jennifer S. Kleiner12. Implications for Psychological Intervention, Chris R. Brewin13. Pharmacological Approaches to Cognitive Deficits Associated with PTSD, Matthew J. Friedman