Objective: To determine whether group therapy improves symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this randomized clinical trial compared efficacy of group cognitive processing therapy cognitive only version; CPT-C) with group present-centered therapy (PCT) for active duty military personnel. Method: Patients attended 90-min groups twice weekly for 6 weeks at Fort Hood, Texas. Independent assessments were administered at baseline, weekly before sessions, and 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months posttreatment. A total of 108 service members (100 men, 8 women) were randomized.

Abstract

Abstract

Memory of a traumatic event becomes consolidated within hours. Intrusive memories can then flash back repeatedly
into the mind’s eye and cause distress. We investigated whether reconsolidation—the process during which memories
become malleable when recalled—can be blocked using a cognitive task and whether such an approach can reduce
these unbidden intrusions. We predicted that reconsolidation of a reactivated visual memory of experimental trauma
could be disrupted by engaging in a visuospatial task that would compete for visual working memory resources. We