Review of diagnostic approaches for mental and cognitive impairment in post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is becoming increasingly common among military personnel who have participated in combat operations, posing a significant challenge to their normal social functioning. Without effective rehabilitation programs, maladaptive behaviors can become habitual, hindering social integration. Therefore, it is crucial to start the mental recovery process as early as possible. This work evaluated the validity of the diagnostic approaches recommended by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project in evaluating the PTSD severity. We used the RDoC and International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains to evaluate PTSD-associated functional impairment. The work reviewed the syndromic heterogeneity of PTSD, the challenges of differential diagnosis, and the impact of etiological factors on the clinical presentation. We identified three main categories of functional impairment: stress-related behaviors, interpersonal interactions, and cognitive abilities. Diagnostic approaches and research paradigms were proposed to assess and standardize these categories. The RDoC and ICF concepts provide a new perspective on the pathogenesis of PTSD and development of personalized management strategies. It appears promising to enhance specialized diagnostic approaches for this patient population, considering their cultural and mental background.