PTSD and Cognitive Deficits: It's Not Just about Emotion
Live Webinar Offering
This webinar will be broadcasted LIVE from 12:00 - 1:00 PM PT on August 12, 2026. 

Credit for this course must be claimed by November 10, 2026.
Overview

Description 

This webinar will discuss posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a biopsychosocial disorder that is associated with neurobiological features, including neurocognitive deficits such as disruptions to attention, inhibition, and new learning, as well as biases in what people attend to, remember, and how they picture their futures. The webinar will map these cognitive abnormalities to neural functioning, PTSD symptom expression, and behaviors that someone experiencing PTSD may display. 

Format 

Live webinar.

Learning Objectives 

At the completion of the activity, participants will: 

  • Incorporate knowledge of cognitive deficits associated with PTSD into case conceptualizations 
  • In interacting with people who are experiencing PTSD, anticipate possible biases in the way they process information provided to them 
  • Apply knowledge of difficulties that people with PTSD may have in imagining a positive future to helping them with decision making that could affect their futures 

Outline 

  • Overview of trauma and PTSD fundamentals  
  • Exploring PTSD as a biopsychosocial disorder 
  • Cognitive and functional implications 
  • PTSD and special populations  
  • Question and answer 

Target Audience 

Psychiatrist, Physician (Non-Psychiatric), Psychiatric Technician, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker, Student (Non-Medical), Peer Specialist 

Instructional Level 

Introductory 

Estimated Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1 hour 
Program Release 08/12/2026 
Program End Date: 08/12/2026 

Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board 

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.  

How to Earn Credit 

After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit 

In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  

Physicians   

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.   

Nurses/Nurse Practitioners   

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.00 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  

Psychiatric Technicians  

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPTs). Provider Number: 15028. This course is approved for 1.00 of continuing education for LPTs. 

Psychologists   

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.  

Social Workers    

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 Clinical, social work clinical practice continuing education credits. 

***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.    

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Faculty: 

  • Jennifer J. Vasterling, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist who serves as a Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Psychology at the US Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and an affiliated investigator in the National Center for PTSD. Her research and clinical work have focused on the neuropsychological correlates of PTSD and the comorbidity of PTSD and mild TBI - both topics on which she has published edited books in additional to journal articles. She is a former President of the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (American Psychological Association Division 40) and a former member of the Governing Board of the International Neuropsychological Society. 

Program Planners: 

  • John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Kathryn Hanley, APRN, Austin State Hospital. Ms. Hanley has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Amy N. Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds, Chicago. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Charles Perdue, Psych Tech Planner, California Department of State Hospitals. Mr. Perdue has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 

Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

Windows PC: 

Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |  

Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance 

Summary
Availability:
Registration Required
Expires on Nov 10, 2026
Location:
Online Meeting
Date / Time:
Aug 12, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
Credit Offered:
1 CME Credit
1 NCPD Credit
1 Psychology CE Credit
1 Social Work CE Credit
1 COP Credit
1 Psych Tech CE Credit
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