HCC is famous for its high recurrence rate and poor prognosis, so it is necessary to identify new predictors of HCC and explore the potential mechanisms.22 In addition, life‐threatening illnesses, especially cancers, have the potential to lead to PTSD.23 Psychotherapy is of great help to patients with mental illness.24 In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the NRG1 gene polymorphism (rs35753505 and rs3924999) and the cognitive function of the patients with HCC complicated with PTSD before and after the psychological intervention. This evidence concerns the gene NRG1 and cancer.