The relationship between cognitive flexibility and posttraumatic growth

Introduction: Responses to a traumatic event may be pathological, as well as positive and functional responses such as Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). For PTG, memory needs to be reprocessed. Cognitive flexibility is the function of reconstructing information according to the complexity brought about by changing conditions. Although there are many studies examining cognitive functions and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), information on PTG and cognitive functions is limited. In this study, PTSD and PTG were examined together in order to handle responses to trauma with a holistic approach. Objective: It was aimed to investigate the possible relationship between neurocognitive flexibility and PTG. Examining the relationship between PTG and PTSD is also the aims of the study. Method: 96 volunteers who applied to DEUMF Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry with a traffic accident were included. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) was used for diagnosis and Clinician-Directed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS-5) was used for verification. For the related variables; Sociodemographic and Trauma-Related Characteristics data forms, Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM 5 (PCL-5), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 42 (DASS-42) were used. Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) for PTG, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Categorical Fluency Test for cognitive flexibility were used. Results: There was a weak, negative correlation between the PTGI life philosophy change sub-dimension scores and the TMT A, Stroop Test; A weak, positive significant relationship was found between the total scores of the Categorical Fluency Test. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant relationship between PTSD and PTG. A statistically weak and positive relationship was found between the neurocognitive flexibility levels of the participants and the sub-dimension of change in philosophy of life.