Effectiveness of the Therapeutic Reconsolidation Process Model on Executive Functions, Cognitive Flexibility, and Schemas Related to Post-traumatic Stress in Neuropsychiatric Veterans above 25%

Aims: Post-traumatic stress disorder in people traumatized by war includes a set of clinical symptoms such as cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of training the therapeutic reconsolidation process model on improving executive functions, increasing cognitive flexibility, and modifying schemas related to post-traumatic stress disorder in neuropsychiatric veterans above 25%. Materials Methods: This semi-experimental study in a pre-test, post-test design with a control group and a 45-day follow-up was conducted on the neuropsychiatric veterans above 25%. 40 people were randomly selected and assigned into the experimental (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. The therapeutic reconsolidation process model training was held for the experimental group in 12 sessions (90 minutes once a week). The research tools included the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Leahy Emotional Schema Scale, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Color and Word Test, and Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software. Findings: In different study stages, there was a significant increase in the mean scores of response inhibition in the Stroop test, subscales of cognitive flexibility, compatible emotional schemas, and correct answers in the Wisconsin test, and a significant decrease in the mean scores of incompatible emotional schemas and incorrect answers in Wisconsin test, in the experimental group compared to the control group (p 0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic reconsolidation process model is effective in improving executive functions, increasing cognitive flexibility, and modifying schemas related to post-traumatic stress disorder in neuropsychiatric veterans above 25%.