Comparison of Neuropsychological Test Performance in PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Control Vietnam Veterans

Abstract

Although impairment in cognitive functioning is theoretically linked to the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the actual impact of this disorder on neuropsychological performance remains largely unknown. While a modest amount of empirical attention has been directed toward examining the neuropsychological correlates of PTSD, several methodological problems, most notably small sample sizes and the resulting lack of power, have greatly restricted generalizability of findings. The present study examined the neuropsychological performance pattern of Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n = 241) as compared to those with generalized anxiety disorder (n = 241) and no history of psychiatric diagnosis (n = 241). A one-way MANOVA revealed no significant differences among the groups on any of the dependent measures of cognitive functioning, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Block Design subtest, the California Verbal Learning Test, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Drawing Test, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The results are reconciled as they relate to previous research examining the theoretical constructs of PTSD, clinical applications, and directions for future research.

Memory impairments in posttraumatic stress disorder are related to depression

“…Poor use of encoding strategies and reduced levels of organization have also been found (Veiel, 1997). Studies on PTSD samples that have included clinical comparison samples have found less clear patterns of PTSD-specific impairment (Gil, Calev, Greenberg, Kugelmass, & Lerer, 1990;Zalewski, Thompson, & Gottesman, 1994).…”

Attention, learning, and memory in posttraumatic stress disorder

“…A careful review of the literature demonstrated that the three studies of cognition conducted to date with the largest sample sizes have yielded negative findings (Barrett, Green, Morris, Giles, & Croft, 1996;Crowell et al, 2002;Zalewski, Thompson, & Gottesman, 1994). The study by Barrett is particularly noteworthy because they found that veterans with PTSD alone (N = 236) did not show lower scores on measures of cognitive functioning compared to normal comparison participants (N = 1,835), whereas veterans with both PTSD and a concurrent diagnosis of depression, another anxiety disorder, or substance abuse (N = 128) performed significantly less well.…”

Improving sleep: Initial headache treatment in OIF/OEF veterans with blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury

“…In addition to improving sleep, prazosin may improve cognitive function by reducing the anxiety associated with PTSD. Subjects with PTSD have impaired cognitive function that can be attributed in part to anxiety [20]. Prazosin may reduce anxiety in veterans with PTSD by reducing central nervous system noradrenergic activity [21].…”