Neuropsychological test performance in soldiers with blast-related mild TBI.
This exploratory study was conducted to increase understanding of neuropsychological test performance in those with blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The two variables of interest for their impact on test performance were presence of mTBI symptoms and history of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forty-five soldiers postblast mTBI, 27 with enduring mTBI symptoms and 18 without, completed a series of neuropsychological tests. Seventeen of the 45 met criteria for PTSD. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (Frencham, Fox, & Mayberry, 2005; Spreen & Strauss, 1998) was the primary outcome measure. Two-sided, 2-sample t tests were used to compare scores between groups of interest. Presence of mTBI symptoms did not impact test performance. In addition, no significant differences between soldiers with and without PTSD were identified. Standard neuropsychological assessment may not increase understanding about impairment associated with mTBI symptoms. Further research in this area is indicated.
VA VISN 19 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO 80220, USA. lisa.brenner@va.gov
Lisa A
LA
Brenner
Heidi
H
Terrio
Beeta Y
BY
Homaifar
Peter M
PM
Gutierrez
Pamela J
PJ
Staves
Jeri E F
JE
Harwood
Dennis
D
Reeves
Lawrence E
LE
Adler
Brian J
BJ
Ivins
Katherine
K
Helmick
Deborah
D
Warden
D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult