# Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Functioning Deficits in Veterans with PTSD

> **NIH VA IK2** · PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · —

## Abstract

CDA Overview: This application proposes a mentored training program supporting Dr. Maya O’Neil’s
development into an independent VA Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D) investigator with
expertise in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive rehabilitation, and behavioral clinical trial methods.
Dr. O’Neil is a licensed psychologist at the Portland VA, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Medical
Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and recent K scholar.
Training: Dr. O’Neil will increase expertise in PTSD and cognitive rehabilitation research, enhance skill in the
conduct of behavioral clinical trials, and learn how to use VA resources (e.g., Corporate Data Warehouse,
CDW) to support trials. The training plan integrates formal coursework, content trainings, and mentor guidance.
Mentors: Dr. Daniel Storzbach, Portland VA Director of Neuropsychology, Associate Professor of Psychiatry
and Neurology at OHSU; Dr. Kathleen Carlson, Core Investigator at the RR&D National Center for
Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) and Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of
Innovation (COIN), PI of the Portland Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma study site; Dr. Elizabeth Twamley, VA
rehabilitation researcher, Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD, Director of the Clinical Research Unit of the Center
of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health at the San Diego VA, lead author of Compensatory Cognitive
Training (CCT); and Dr. Nina Sayer, Associate Director of the HSR&D COIN and PI of the Minneapolis VA
EBP4PTSD CREATE, and Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at University of Minnesota.
Project Background: PTSD is associated with deficits in cognitive functioning including memory, learning,
processing speed, concentration, attention, and executive functioning. Though many Veterans benefit from
evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for PTSD, there is little research examining the extent to which cognitive
problems are present before and after EBP and are related to change in PTSD symptoms, quality of life, and
functioning. Dr. O’Neil’s pilot research suggests that many Veterans have cognitive functioning deficits even
after completing EBP for PTSD, though there are no evidence-based treatments for these Veterans. CCT is
improves cognitive functioning in Veterans with brain injury history, but is not yet tested in Veterans with PTSD.
Project Aims: The proposed studies will (1) determine the types and magnitude of cognitive problems and
changes in cognitive functioning following EBP and (2) evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and participant
characteristics, and estimate effect sizes, in a pilot test of CCT for Veterans with PTSD-related cognitive
problems. Data from these studies will form the basis for a RR&D Merit submission testing the effectiveness of
CCT for cognitive problems in Veterans with PTSD in a clinical trial during year 4 of the CDA.
Project Methods: We will recruit Veterans fr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10070522
- **Project number:** 5IK2RX002762-03
- **Recipient organization:** PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Maya Elin O'Neil
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10070522

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10070522, Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Functioning Deficits in Veterans with PTSD (5IK2RX002762-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10070522. Licensed CC0.

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