Psychological testing at high altitudes.
Psychological testing was done on 20 subjects at various altitudes (sea level, 3,8,10 m, and 5,000 m) during a 35-d mountaineering expedition to Denali (Mt. McKinley). Intellectual functioning and personality changes were studied. While little variation was noted at the lower altitude, at 5,000 m there was a marked deterioration in cognitive ability. This was accompanied by a sharp increase in paranoia and obsessive-compulsiveness and smaller increases in depression and hostility.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005101:Expeditions; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009051:Mountaineering; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010556:Personality Tests