title: Neuropsychological functioning of childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis.
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.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic 3086, Australia; Child Neuropsychology, Clinical Sciences Theme, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Electronic address: stephanie.malarbi@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malarbi
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic 3086, Australia; Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abu-Rayya
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychology, Clinical Sciences Theme, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muscara
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic 3086, Australia; Child Neuropsychology, Clinical Sciences Theme, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stargatt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
keywords: Children; Cognition; Maltreatment; Neurodevelopment; PTSD; Physiological stress response; Trauma