The Effectiveness of Emotional Working Memory Training on Execution Functions of Adolescents with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional working memory training on execution functions in adolescent with posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD). Based on a single case multiple-baselines design, 3 adolescents (1 male, 2 females) were selected from one of the educational child center of city of Karaj by available sampling using SCID-I and IES-R. The participants received 20 sessions of emotional working memory training. The participants were assessed during three stages (pre-training, training, and 2- month follow up) by the Wechsler Digit Span Test (direct and reverse) and the Go/No Go Task. The data were analyzed using the indices for trend changes, slope and the visual inspection of the charts. The Cohen's d, recovery percent index, and effect size were used to determine the clinical significance. The results indicated that emotional working memory training increased the participants’ working memory and inhibition abilities from pre-training stage to follow up stage. The findings suggest that emotional working memory training may be an appropriate choice for increasing the execution functions of adolescents with PTSD.