Neuropsychological functioning in posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse.
Studies have shown differences in neuropsychological functioning between groups with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and control participants. Because individuals with PTSD often have a history of comorbid alcohol abuse, the extent to which an alcohol confound is responsible for these differences remains a concern. The current study compares neuropsychological testing scores in 4 groups of veterans with and without PTSD (PTSD+ and PTSD-, respectively) and with and without a history of alcohol abuse (ETOH+ and ETOH-, respectively): n for PTSD+/ETOH- = 30, n for PTSD+/ETOH- = 37, n for PTSD-/ETOH+ = 30, and n for PTSD-/ETOH- = 31. Results showed that PTSD, when alcohol, educational level, vocabulary, and depression are controlled for, was associated with decreased verbal memory, attention, and processing speed performance. Alcohol abuse history was associated with decreased visual memory performance. By controlling for alcohol and depression, the authors can more conclusively demonstrate that verbal memory and attention differences are associated with PTSD.
Samuelson
Kristin W
KW
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Neylan
Thomas C
TC
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Metzler
Thomas J
TJ
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Lenoci
Maryanne
M
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Rothlind
Johannes
J
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Henn-Haase
Clare
C
0000-0003-0429-781X
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Choucroun
Gerard
G
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Weiner
Michael W
MW
Department of Radiology, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
Marmar
Charles R
CR
Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology