title: Neuropsychological and behavioral correlates of impulsiveness in veterans with and without mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has identified a relation between impulsiveness and substance use, as well as performance on certain tests of executive functioning. However, no prior research has investigated these relations in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans with and without a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study utilized a sample of 127 veterans (55 controls, 72 mTBI). Relations among health behaviors, cognition, and domain scores (attentional, motor, and nonplanning impulsiveness) of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were examined using regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonplanning impulsiveness was associated with higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score. Attentional and motor impulsiveness were not associated with performance on any measures of behavior or cognition. The relationship between nonplanning impulsiveness and alcohol misuse was not influenced by history of mTBI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results partially support previous findings and indicate that an association between impulsiveness and problematic behaviors exists in OEF/OIF/OND veterans, regardless of TBI history.
authors.affiliation: a Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center , Houston , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Travis Seidl
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Pastorek
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troyanskaya
authors.forename: Randall S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Scheibel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Impulsivity; Mild traumatic brain injury; Neuropsychological assessment; Substance use; Veterans