The Role of Executive Functioning in Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Summary

This project aims to investigate neuropsychological alterations in women with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and complex PTSD (CPTSD), survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), and to implement a cognitive stimulation program. The specific objectives are:

* To establish the prevalence and severity of neuropsychological alterations in women victims of IPV and to define their profile according to the type of violence suffered.
* To analyze the differences in neuropsychological alterations between PTSD and CPTSD.
* To implement a cognitive stimulation program in women with CPTSD.
* To evaluate whether this program reduces symptoms of DSO (Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified) and classic post-traumatic symptoms.
* The hypotheses suggest that women victims of IPV will present lower scores in executive functions, attention, and memory, a higher prevalence of CPTSD, and that the cognitive stimulation program will improve complex post-traumatic sequelae.

Methodology: Women victims of IPV attended at the CIMs of Andalusia will be randomly selected, with support from with support from the Andalusian Women Institute. Participants: 100 women victims of IPV and 100 non-victims. Inclusion criteria are literacy and, for IPV, having experienced partner violence. Those with a history of brain damage, previous psychopathological alterations, or diseases affecting cognition will be excluded. Evaluation: It will include sociodemographic surveys, violence assessment, psychopathological alterations, DSO symptoms, and neuropsychological assessments. Intervention: A cognitive stimulation program (VIRTRAEL/LUCCIDY) and a standard training (Reflection Group; TAU) in groups. Nine weekly sessions will be conducted, evaluating pre- and post-treatment and follow-up at 3 months.

Conditions

• Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Program (VIRTRAEL/LUCCIDY)
• Standard Training (TAU)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Experimental Training: VIRTRAEL/LUCCIDY

Cognitive stimulation of the different cognitive functions to be addressed will be conducted in the following sessions: * Session 1: Shopping lists. Balls. Gift shopping. Long-term memory of the Shopping List. * Session 2: Disordered objects. Whats different? Semantic series. Logical series. Puzzle pieces. Semantic analogies. * Session 3: Classifiable objects. Gift shopping. Bag of objects. * Session 4: Shopping lists. Balls. Disordered objects. Long-term memory of the Shopping List. * Session 5: Semantic series. Logical series. Puzzle pieces. Semantic analogies. Gift shopping. * Session 6: Classifiable objects. Bag of objects. Disordered objects. * Session 7: Shopping lists. Semantic series. Logical series. Puzzle pieces. What\'s different? Semantic analogies. Long-term memory of the Shopping List. * Session 8: Disordered objects. Gift shopping. Balls. * Session 9: Bag of objects. Semantic series. Logical series. Whats different? Semantic analogies. Classifiable objects.

BEHAVIORAL

Active Comparator: Standard Training: Reflection Group (TAU) (Andalusian Institute of Women, 2010)

This 9-session program explores how societal norms shape women\'s roles and identities. In Session 1, it discusses how women are socially positioned as caretakers in relationships and introduces the concept of the self in relation. Session 2 delves into gender conflicts, focusing on the tension between societal demands and personal desires. Session 3 explores guilt when women fail to meet expected roles, and the fear of being selfish when prioritizing their own needs. Session 4 examines how dependence is fostered by seeking external validation for self-worth. Session 5 critiques romantic love as a cultural tool to prioritize men desires over women. Session 6 analyzes how intimate partner violence (IPV) emerges as a means to maintain power imbalances in relationships. Session 7 looks at the family role in socializing women, while Session 8 explores fears of abandonment. Finally, Session 9 focuses on building life skills and concludes the program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Universidad de Granada

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-10-01

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2027-05-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations