Neuropsicología del trastorno por estrés post-traumático

Cognitive alterations are frequent in the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Apart from memory alteration and concentrationproblems symptoms that are a part of the diagnostic criterion, neuropsychological evaluation allows us to objectivate problems in verbal memory (the coding phase), in executive functions characterized by work memory failures (both verbal and spatial), inhibitory control, flexibility/ attention change and planning. These patients have medial temporal lobe involvement, hippocampus reduction and a dysfunction of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis. These neurobiological and neuropsychological aspects have a significant relevance in the course of the disease and the treatment of the patients. Key words: PTSD, neuropsychology, attention, memory, executive functions.