Cognition and Ventral Attention Network Connectivity: Associations With Treatment Response in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly heterogeneous disorder, which makes it difficult to link clinical phenotypes with biomarkers to improve treatment outcomes. Findings from previous studies suggest that cognitive measures such as verbal memory or attention paired with within–ventral attention network (VAN) or salience network resting-state functional connectivity may predict treatment response among individuals with PTSD.

In a sample comprising 20 individuals with PTSD and 10 healthy control group individuals, the investigators subtyped individuals by using both discriminant function analysis and standardized norms for a single measure of memory and neuropsychological batteries of memory, attention, and executive functioning; attempted to replicate previous findings of lower within-VAN connectivity among individuals with cognitive impairment; and explored whether within-VAN connectivity paired with cognitive impairment predicted treatment outcomes.

PTSD patients with cognitive impairment (defined by using a discriminant function analysis with verbal memory performance) had greater within-VAN resting-state functional connectivity compared with control group individuals and cognitively intact PTSD patients at a level that fell short of statistical significance (F=3.41; df=2, 21; η_p²=0.237). The interaction between verbal memory performance and within-VAN connectivity also predicted treatment-related change in PTSD symptoms at a level that also fell short of statistical significance (β=−0.442).

These findings somewhat support the clinical utility of identifying cognitive phenotypes within PTSD (by using discriminant function analysis and verbal memory performance) to predict treatment outcomes.