Clinician handoff
Trauma
Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.
Why this still fits
I want to evaluate whether trauma-related nervous-system activation or shutdown is contributing to my brain fog and how to distinguish that from depression, anxiety, or PTSD overlap.
What would weaken it
- -No trauma history, no trigger-linked worsening, and no shutdown or hypervigilance pattern around the fog.
- -The symptoms behave more like depression, sleep apnea, or another medical cause than a threat-state nervous system pattern.
- -The fog doesn't meaningfully change with safety, triggers, or trauma-state shifts.
Key points to communicate
- •I want to know whether this is trauma-state brain fog itself or another cause layered on top of trauma history.
- •Please separate shutdown, dissociation, and hypervigilance from depression, anxiety, and sleep disruption.
- •If trauma is central, I want to know which trauma-focused treatments are most likely to help cognition.
- •Could any of my current medications be contributing to cognitive symptoms?
- •Would neuropsychological testing help clarify whether this is trauma-related or something else?
Bring this to the visit
- •A timeline of when cognitive symptoms started relative to traumatic events.
- •Current coping strategies and any substance use.
- •Sleep quality data: nightmares, insomnia, hypervigilance at night.
- •Current therapy and medication details.
Useful screening structure
- -ACE questionnaire (Adverse Childhood Experiences) for developmental trauma.
- -PCL-5 if PTSD is a possibility.
- -PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety screening.
Tests and measurements to discuss
Trauma Assessment
PTSD Screening (PCL-5)
What this helps clarify: Patient-facing PTSD Checklist route used when trauma symptoms may be driving the cognitive picture.
Range context
0-80 score bands
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
ACE Questionnaire
What this helps clarify: The ACE questionnaire counts types of childhood adversity: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction before age 18.
Range context
0-10 (count of adverse childhood experience types)
How to use the result
Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.
Sleep Assessment
What this helps clarify: This is here to make sure the story is not being driven by sleep-disordered breathing or chronic sleep disruption that could mimic or amplify the primary cognitive pattern.
Questions to ask directly
- •Is the fog from trauma itself (dissociation, hypervigilance exhaustion) or from co-occurring depression/anxiety?
- •Should we screen for medical causes alongside trauma-informed care?
- •Would somatic-based therapy (EMDR, somatic experiencing) be more effective than talk therapy for cognitive symptoms?
- •Are my current medications contributing to the fog?
Functional impact snapshot
- -Track fog against stress levels, sleep quality, and dissociation episodes.
- -Rate whether therapy sessions temporarily worsen or improve cognitive function.
- -Note whether body-based regulation (exercise, breathing, grounding) shifts the fog.
Escalate instead of self-managing if
- •Suicidal ideation, self-harm, or safety concerns.
- •Severe dissociation causing dangerous situations.
- •Substance use escalation as a coping mechanism.
Peer-reviewed references