Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a kind of mental disorder associated with traumatic experiences. The core symptoms of PTSD include intrusions, avoidance of trauma reminders, negative alterations in cognitions and mood and alterations in arousal. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) may reduce PTSD symptoms by changing the connectivity of cerebellum, central executive network, and default mode network through the core therapeutic steps of preventing avoidance, releasing true emotion, and recognizing and challenging "stuck points". At present, a large number of empirical studies abroad have certified the significant efficacy of CPT, but it has not been widely promoted in China. Therefore, this article intends to summarize the clinical application of CPT in different populations and its possible therapeutic mechanism, in order to provide evidence-based medical evidence for the localization and clinical application in China.

Stress disorders, post-traumatic; Cognitive processing therapy; Psychotherapy