Neuropsychological performance is related to current social and occupational functioning in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have reported deficits in both immediate and delayed recall of verbal memory in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most of these studies had several methodological disadvantages. None of these studies assessed parameters related to social or occupational functioning.


METHODS
Fifty Dutch veterans of UN peacekeeping missions (25 with PTSD and 25 without PTSD) were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery consisting of four subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III, California Verbal-Learning Test, and the Rey Auditory Verbal-Learning Test. Veterans with PTSD were free of medication and substance abuse.


RESULTS
Veterans with PTSD had similar total intelligence quotient scores compared to controls, but displayed deficits of figural and logical memory. Veterans with PTSD also performed significantly lower on measures of learning and immediate and delayed verbal memory. Memory performance accurately predicted current social and occupational functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Deficits of memory performance were displayed in a sample of medication- and substance abuse-free veterans with PTSD. Deficits in memory performance were not related to intelligence quotient, length of trauma exposure, or time since trauma exposure. This study showed that cognitive performance accurately predicted current social and occupational functioning in veterans with PTSD.
Geuze
Elbert
E
Research Centre-Military Mental Health, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.g.geuze@umcutrecht.nl
Vermetten
Eric
E
de Kloet
Carien S
CS
Hijman
Ron
R
Westenberg
Herman G M
HG
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*