Cited by 172Child Abuse and TraumaPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Neuropsychological functioning of childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis

Malarbi, S., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Muscara, F., Stargatt, R.·2017·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Abstract

This study reviewed evidence for cognitive impairments in trauma-exposed children with and without PTSD. Twenty-seven studies were eligible for meta-analysis, totalling 1526 participants, including 412 trauma-exposed children (PTSD unknown), 300 children with PTSD (PTSD+), 323 children without PTSD (PTSD-), and 491 trauma-naive controls. Eligible studies mostly investigated familial-maltreatment trauma (k=22). Trauma-exposed children (PTSD unknown) performed more poorly overall than controls (d=-0.57). Cognitive deficits were seen in PTSD+ compared to controls, including a large effect size (ES) for general intelligence (d=-0.88), moderate ESs for language/verbal (d=-0.65), visuospatial (d=-0.53), information processing (d=-0.62), learning and memory (d=-0.67), and executive skills (d=-0.52). PTSD+ showed poorer general intelligence (d=-0.28) and visuospatial skills (d=-0.42) compared to PTSD-, whilst PTSD- showed poorer executive function (d=-0.23) and learning and memory (d=-0.61) compared to controls. In conclusion, trauma-exposed children showed cognitive deficits compared to controls, although greatest deficits were associated with PTSD diagnosis.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.11.004

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Authors
Malarbi, S., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Muscara, F., & Stargatt, R.
Affiliations
Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Malarbi, S.
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-01
Volume
72
Pages
68-86
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2553975206
Cited by
172
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
childhood trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, neuropsychological performance, cognitive impairment, general intelligence, executive function, learning and memory, visuospatial ability, information processing, family maltreatment, trauma-exposed children
MeSH terms
Child, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Learning, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Executive Function

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