Case Report on the Effects of Cognitive Processing Therapy on Psychological, Neuropsychological, and Speech Symptoms in Comorbid PTSD and TBI

Abstract

Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are prevalent conditions in military veterans, frequently co-occur in this population, and have substantial symptom overlap. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an empirically supported treatment for PTSD but questions have arisen about its efficacy for individuals with a history of TBI, particularly those experiencing cognitive or other neurologic symptoms. Research examining the generalizability of CPT to veterans with both PTSD and a history of TBI has been limited. We describe the use of CPT with a veteran who presented with PTSD, a history of mild TBI, subjective cognitive complaints, objective cognitive deficits, and speech disturbance (stuttering). This case study demonstrates that CPT can effectively and significantly reduce core PTSD symptoms as well as cognitive symptoms and speech disturbances in this comorbid presentation.