Attention, Memory, Intrusive Thoughts, and Acceptance in PTSD: An Update on the Empirical Literature for Clinicians

Information processing theory suggests that cognitive changes following trauma are common and hypothesized to have an impact on attention, memory, and intrusive thoughts. There is an ever-expanding empirical literature where cognitive features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being explored. However, it can sometimes be difficult for front-line clinicians to stay abreast of this literature and how it impacts the treatment s/he provides. The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of some recent basic and applied research on information processing in PTSD and the implications of these findings for cognitive-behavioral clinicians. In particular, we explore recent findings regarding attention, memory, intrusive thoughts/thought suppression, and acceptance as they relate to clinical work in patients with PTSD.