title: Trail making test performance in Vietnam combat veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: The present study investigated variables associated with performance on the Trail Making Test from the Halstead-Reitan neuropsychological test battery in Vietnam combat veterans. There was a significant difference in performance between veterans with and without PTSD on both parts of the Trail Making Test. In subgroup analyses excluding participants on medications (antianxiety, antidepressant, and cardiac), comorbid diagnoses (history of alcohol or substance abuse, history of major depression and comorbid anxiety disorder) and compensation-seeking status, the group difference on Trails B remained significant. However, subgroup analyses suggested that poorer performance on Trails A was influenced by antianxiety and cardiac medications, as well as heavy combat exposure status.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beckham
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014145:Trail Making Test; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014744:Vietnam; D014857:Warfare