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.
Brenner
Lisa A
LA
VA VISN 19 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO 80220, USA. lisa.brenner@va.gov
Terrio
Heidi
H
Homaifar
Beeta Y
BY
Gutierrez
Peter M
PM
Staves
Pamela J
PJ
Harwood
Jeri E F
JE
Reeves
Dennis
D
Adler
Lawrence E
LE
Ivins
Brian J
BJ
Helmick
Katherine
K
Warden
Deborah
D
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