Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Medicina Lithuania

Publication Date

5-1-2026

Abstract

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ages 3–18 is associated with disturbances in attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive control, as well as persistent difficulties in affect regulation. These neuropsychological vulnerabilities might interfere with learning, peer relationships, and the consolidation of age-appropriate developmental skills. Methods: We conducted a narrative review informed by a structured literature search in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. English-language publications from 1990 to 2025 were considered if they examined (1) neuropsychological outcomes of trauma exposure or PTSD in youth and/or (2) interventions with potential to modify neurocognitive or affective functioning, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), mindfulness-based interventions, cognitive rehabilitation strategies, and biofeedback/neurofeedback. Results: Across study designs, trauma exposure and PTSD in youth are consistently linked to impairments in attentional control and executive functioning, with downstream effects on everyday memory and academic performance. Neurobiological studies commonly implicate altered reactivity within amygdala-centered threat circuits and reduced top-down modulation by prefrontal networks, although findings vary with trauma type, developmental stage, and comorbidity. TF-CBT remains the best-supported intervention for pediatric PTSD symptoms; however, neurocognitive outcomes are measured less frequently. Mindfulness-based programs show promise for strengthening attention and emotion regulation when carefully adapted for trauma-exposed youth. Neurofeedback and targeted cognitive rehabilitation represent emerging approaches with preliminary evidence, but the literature remains heterogeneous. Conclusions: An intervention strategy that combines symptom-focused trauma therapy with explicit targeting of executive control, memory processes, and affect regulation may represent a developmentally informed clinical framework for trauma-exposed youth. Future trials need to incorporate standardized neuropsychological endpoints and examine moderators that inform treatment matching.

ISSN

1010-660X

Publisher

MDPI AG

Volume

62

Issue

5

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

attention, child and adolescent, cognitive rehabilitation, emotion regulation, executive function, mindfulness, neurofeedback, neuroplasticity, posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma exposure, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy

Scopus ID

105040058709

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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