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Neale AC, Aase DM, Soble JR, Baker JC, Phan KL. Disentangling subjective symptom complaints and objective cognitive performance in veterans: Impact of posttraumatic stress disorder and lifetime traumatic brain injury burden. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:948-963. [PMID: 35819927 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2096452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Self-reported histories of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are prevalent among post-9/11 veterans. Both are associated with subjective and often overlapping symptom complaints, but variably with objective neuropsychological test performances. These outcomes are seldom explored in relation to lifetime mTBI burden. This cross-sectional study examined associations of PTSD and lifetime mTBI with subjective (persistent symptoms after concussion and cognitive complaints) and objective (performances across five cognitive domains) measures among 46 veterans. Within this sample, 20 veterans had Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) confirmed PTSD (PTSD+), whereas 26 demographically-similar participants did not meet criteria (PTSD-). The Boston Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury-Lifetime (BAT-L) yielded total mTBI scores ranging from 0 to 8. Regressions showed PTSD was associated with increased subjective symptoms/cognitive complaints, along with reduced verbal fluency, visuospatial memory, and processing speed performances. Lifetime mTBI burden was associated with subjective symptoms, but not with objective cognitive test performance, after controlling for PTSD. No significant interactions were observed. Exploratory correlations suggested that all PTSD symptom clusters were generally associated with the subjective and objective measures. However, fewer significant associations emerged within the PTSD+/- groups separately, with each group yielding somewhat different patterns of relationships. PTSD and increasing mTBI burden are consistently associated with negative subjective symptoms, including cognitive complaints. Each condition likely explains some degree of unique variance in symptom reporting. PTSD is associated with poorer objective cognition on some tasks, including processing speed, executive functioning, and learning/memory. Implications are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec C Neale
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Darrin M Aase
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason R Soble
- Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Neurology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Justin C Baker
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - K Luan Phan
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Effect of blast-related mTBI on the working memory system: a resting state fMRI study. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 14:949-960. [PMID: 30519997 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9987-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Reduced working memory is frequently reported by Veterans with a history of blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but can be difficult to quantify on neuropsychological measures. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the impact of blast-related mTBI on the working memory system by using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore differences in functional connectivity between OEF/OIF/OND Veterans with and without a history of mTBI. Participants were twenty-four Veterans with a history of blast-related mTBI and 17 Veterans who were deployed but had no lifetime history of TBI. Working memory ability was evaluated with the Auditory Consonants Trigrams (ACT) task. Resting state fMRI was used to evaluate intrinsic functional connectivity from frontal seed regions that are known components of the working memory network. No significant group differences were found on the ACT, but the imaging analyses revealed widespread hyper-connectivity from the frontal seed regions in the Veterans with a history of mTBI relative to the deployed control group. Further, within the mTBI group, but not the control group, better performance on the ACT was associated with increased functional connectivity to multiple brain regions, including cerebellar components of the working memory network. These results were present after controlling for age, PTSD symptoms, and estimated premorbid IQ, and suggest that long-term alterations in the functional connectivity of the working memory network following blast-related mTBI may reflect a compensatory change that contributes to intact performance on an objective measure of working memory.
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Hantke N, Adamson MM, Noda A, Lazzeroni LC, Beaudreau SA, Yutsis M, Fairchild JK, Kinoshita LM, Kong J, Sheng T, Waltzman D, Ashford JW, Yesavage JA. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Associated Cognitive Deficits on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in a Veteran Population. Fed Pract 2021; 38:28-34. [PMID: 33574646 DOI: 10.12788/fp.0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent problem of veterans receiving care and is often associated with cognitive deficits. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a well-validated cognitive screening measure often used in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly in neurorehabilitation settings. However, the influence of PTSD on RBANS performance is unclear, particularly within a heterogeneous VA outpatient population in which PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) may not be the primary focus of care. Methods Participants included 153 veterans with complex deployment-related health problems, including a diagnosis of PTSD (n = 98) and a history of TBI (n = 92). All veterans completed a targeted cognitive battery that included the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading, the Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale, measure assessing processing speed, attention, and cognitive flexibility, and RBANS. Results A diagnosis of PTSD was associated with worse performance on the Story Recall subtest of the RBANS, but not on any other cognitive measures. A diagnosis of mild TBI, or co-occurring PTSD and TBI did not predict cognitive performance on any measures. Conclusions The RBANS best captured cognitive deficits associated with PTSD compared with a history of mild TBI or co-occurring mild TBI and PTSD. These findings may provide insight into the interpretation and attribution of cognitive deficits in the veteran population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Hantke
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Maheen M Adamson
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Art Noda
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Laura C Lazzeroni
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Sherry A Beaudreau
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Maya Yutsis
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - J Kaci Fairchild
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Lisa M Kinoshita
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Jennifer Kong
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Tong Sheng
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Dana Waltzman
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - John Wesson Ashford
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
| | - Jerome A Yesavage
- is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience Division at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Health Care System in Oregon. is a Postdoctoral Fellow, is a Clinical Director, is the Director, and is the Executive Director; all at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the VA Memory Clinic; is a Program Analyst in Polytrauma System of Care; is an Investigator in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC): is an Associate Director, is the Director; all at the MIRECC; is a Clincial Research Senior Scientific Director in the Rehabilitation Service, all at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. is a Research Data Analyst, J. Kaci Fairchild, Sherry Beaudreau, John Ashford, Jerome Yesavage, and are Professors, Dana Waltzman is a Postdoctoral Fellow, all in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor (affiliated) in the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, and Maheen Adamson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, all at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Nathan Hantke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland
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Tate LL, Paxton Willing MM, French LM, Law WA, Bennion LD, Sullivan KW, Riggs DS. The effect of mTBI and PTSD symptoms on computerized cognitive performance: Results from a sample of treatment-seeking active duty US service members. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2020.1842037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa L. Tate
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maegan M. Paxton Willing
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Louis M. French
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence/Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Wendy A. Law
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence/Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Layne D. Bennion
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Katherine W. Sullivan
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence/Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David S. Riggs
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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Merritt VC, Jurick SM, Crocker LD, Hoffman SN, Keller AV, DeFord N, Jak AJ. Evaluation of objective and subjective clinical outcomes in combat veterans with and without mild TBI and PTSD: A four-group design. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2019; 41:665-679. [DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2019.1610161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C. Merritt
- Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M. Jurick
- Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Laura D. Crocker
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Amber V. Keller
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nicole DeFord
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amy J. Jak
- Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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6
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Brungart D, Kruger S, Kwiatkowski T, Heil T, Highland KB, Cohen J, Kokx-Ryan M, Schurman J, Zaleski-King A, Zion D. The Effects of Blast-Related Neurotrauma on Aurally Aided Visual Search While Standing and Walking. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:2443-2453. [PMID: 30696345 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Service members (SMs) who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury due to blast exposure (b/TBI) often report post-concussive symptoms consistent with auditory, visual, or vestibular impairments even when they score within the normal range on traditional clinical tests of sensory function. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that patients who score in the low normal range in more than one sensory modality may be severely impaired in tasks that require multisensory integration. This study evaluated unimodal and multimodal sensory performance in SMs with b/TBI and healthy controls by having them conduct four tasks while walking or standing in an immersive virtual environment: an Auditory Localization task (AL) where they moved a cursor to the perceived location of a sound; a Visual Discrimination task (VD) where they distinguished between two visual targets; an Aurally-Aided Visual Search Task (AAVS) where they used an auditory cue to locate and identify a visual target hidden in a field of visual distractors; and a Visual-Only Visual Search task (VOVS) where they located and identified a visual target in a field of distractors with no auditory cue. The results show the b/TBI and healthy control groups performed equivalently in the AL and VD tasks, but that the b/TBI group responded roughly 15% slower in the AAVS task and 50% slower in the VOVS task. Walking had no effect on performance in the visual-only tasks, but both groups responded faster while walking in the AL and AAVS tasks without any reduction in accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Brungart
- 1National Military Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sarah Kruger
- 2National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Krista Beth Highland
- 5Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland.,6Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Julie Cohen
- 3Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melissa Kokx-Ryan
- 2National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Ashley Zaleski-King
- 1National Military Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
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7
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Aase DM, Babione JM, Proescher E, Greenstein JE, DiGangi JA, Schroth C, Kennedy AE, Feeley S, Tan M, Cosio D, Phan KL. Impact of PTSD on post-concussive symptoms, neuropsychological functioning, and pain in post-9/11 veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. Psychiatry Res 2018; 268:460-466. [PMID: 30138858 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Prior work suggested that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) worsens post-concussive symptoms (PCS), neuropsychological functioning, and pain-related outcomes in post-9/11 veterans. However, the impact of PTSD in the context of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is not entirely clear. We evaluated possible differences among veterans with deployment-related mTBI with and without PTSD, and a comparison group. We hypothesized that veterans with comorbid mTBI and PTSD would report more PCS, perform worse on neuropsychological tasks, and report greater pain intensity and maladaptive pain coping relative to those without PTSD. Ninety (15 female, 75 male) post-9/11 veterans completed measures of psychiatric functioning, PCS, deployment-related mTBI, pain intensity, pain coping, and a brief neuropsychological evaluation. Veterans with comorbid mTBI and PTSD reported significantly higher PCS across domains, and greater pain intensity and maladaptive coping. They also performed more poorly on measures of recall, but not on measures of attention, encoding, or executive functioning. Findings suggest that PTSD results in greater PCS in the context of mTBI, and is associated with greater pain catastrophizing, worse recall, greater pain intensity, and greater illness-focused coping than in mTBI alone. PCS symptoms, recall, and pain coping may be of clinical importance for post-9/11 veterans with the "polytrauma triad."
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrin M Aase
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; College of Health and Human Services, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL 60484, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA.
| | - Joseph M Babione
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Eric Proescher
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Justin E Greenstein
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Julia A DiGangi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Christopher Schroth
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Amy E Kennedy
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Stacey Feeley
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Michelle Tan
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - David Cosio
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - K Luan Phan
- Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
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8
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Kontos AP, Van Cott AC, Roberts J, Pan JW, Kelly MB, McAllister-Deitrick J, Hetherington HP. Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Findings in Veterans With Blast Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mil Med 2018; 182:99-104. [PMID: 28291459 DOI: 10.7205/milmed-d-16-00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) findings from the hippocampal regions of military veterans with blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (blast mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to those with PTSD only; and to examine the relationship of MRSI findings to cognitive and neuromotor impairment. METHODS 35 military veterans-23 with blast mTBI and PTSD (blast mTBI/PTSD) and 12 with PTSD only participated in the study. Whole plane MRSI data including N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and choline (Ch) were acquired at 7T for the hippocampus. Concurrent cognitive and neuromotor data were collected using established assessments. General linear models (GLMs) with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the two groups on NAA/Ch ratios across regions of the hippocampus. Spearman's correlations were used to examine correlations between NAA/Ch and cognitive and neuromotor impairment. RESULTS The NAA/Ch results for the left hippocampus were lower in the blast mTBI/PTSD group than the PTSD-only group. The blast mTBI/PTSD group also scored worse on the WAIS-IV-vocabulary. Significant correlations between NAA/Ch and neuromotor outcomes-including vestibular impairment-were supported. CONCLUSIONS Combined MRSI and cognitive and neuromotor data may help inform more objective and accurate diagnoses and effective treatments for patients with blast mTBI and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Kontos
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, #1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Anne C Van Cott
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
| | - Jodilyn Roberts
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
| | - Jullie W Pan
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, 811 Kaufmann Medical Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue #810, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Monique B Kelly
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
| | - Jamie McAllister-Deitrick
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, #1010, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Hoby P Hetherington
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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9
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Segev S, Shorer M, Peleg TP, Apter A, Fennig S, Rassovsky Y. Gender Differences in Neurocognitive Performance Among Children With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Trauma Stress 2018; 31:64-70. [PMID: 29388703 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are frequent sequelae after motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). These two pathologies often have overlapping neurocognitive deficits across several domains, such as attention, memory, and executive functions. The present study was an effort to examine the contribution of gender to these overlapping symptoms. To this end, psychodiagnostic and neuropsychological data were collected on 61 children and adolescents 3 months following MVA. All participants were diagnosed with PTSD, and about half (n = 33) also received a diagnosis of mTBI. Analyses of variance revealed significant interactions between gender and mTBI (ηp2=.15), such that girls with mTBIs preformed significantly worse than noninjured girls on measures of executive functions (Cohen's d = 3.88) and sustained attention (Cohen's d = 3.24). Boys, on the other hand, did not differ significantly on any of those measures, irrespective of TBI injury status. Similarly, comparisons to the normative population revealed that, whereas boys showed impaired neurocognitive performances regardless of TBI status, impaired performances in girls were limited to those cases in which the girls were comorbid for PTSD and mTBI. It appears then that whereas PTSD alone might explain boys' reduced neurocognitive performance, among girls the comorbidity of PTSD and mTBI is required to account for performance deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Segev
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,PTSD Unit, Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Maayan Shorer
- PTSD Unit, Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Tammy Pilowsky Peleg
- Neuropsychological Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel.,Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alan Apter
- PTSD Unit, Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Silvana Fennig
- PTSD Unit, Department of Psychological Medicine, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Yuri Rassovsky
- Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California, USA
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10
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Kulas JF, Rosenheck RA. A Comparison of Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and with Both Disorders: Understanding Multimorbidity. Mil Med 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usx050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph F Kulas
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516
- Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Robert A Rosenheck
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516
- Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510
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11
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Pogoda TK, Levy CE, Helmick K, Pugh MJ. Health services and rehabilitation for active duty service members and veterans with mild TBI. Brain Inj 2017; 31:1220-1234. [DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2016.1274777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Terri K. Pogoda
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles E. Levy
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Arts in Medicine, College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Katherine Helmick
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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12
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Denning JH, Shura RD. Cost of malingering mild traumatic brain injury-related cognitive deficits during compensation and pension evaluations in the veterans benefits administration. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2017; 26:1-16. [DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1350684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John H. Denning
- Department of Veteran Affairs, Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Robert D. Shura
- Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
- Mental Health and Behavioral Science Service Line, W. G. (Bill) Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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13
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Stricker NH, Lippa SM, Green DL, McGlynn SM, Grande LJ, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE. Elevated rates of memory impairment in military service-members and veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2016; 39:768-785. [PMID: 27976973 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2016.1264575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies investigating the neurocognitive effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) routinely find "deficits" in various cognitive domains. However, the rate of cognitive impairment in individuals with PTSD remains unclear, as studies have focused on null hypothesis testing (NHT) and inferring patterns of impairment rather than empirically determining the rate of cognitive impairment in this sample. METHOD This study examined rates of cognitive impairment using a domain-specific approach in non-treatment-seeking Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn service members and veterans with (n = 92) and without (n = 79) PTSD and without substance abuse/dependence who passed a performance validity measure and were matched on age, education, estimated IQ, and ethnicity. Chi-square analyses were used to compare the rate of cognitive impairment across groups based on normative scores using three cutoffs (-1, -1.5, and -2 SDs). NHT was also used to compare performances across groups. RESULTS Individuals with PTSD showed higher rates of impairment in memory (-1-SD cutoff) than controls, but equivalent rates of impairment in attention, processing speed, and executive functioning; no significant differences were found on NHT. Impairment in any domain was also more prevalent in PTSD (-1-, -1.5-, and -2-SD cutoffs). No differences were found on NHT or rates of impairment in individuals with PTSD with (n = 34) and without (n = 58) depression. CONCLUSIONS Patients with PTSD were more likely to meet criteria for memory impairment and to show impairment in any domain than controls. Patients with PTSD and comorbid depression were no more likely to be impaired in any cognitive domain or to have lower scores on individual cognitive tasks than patients with PTSD alone. Clinicians noting cognitive impairment in individuals with PTSD should exercise caution before ascribing that impairment to another etiology if deficits are limited to memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki H Stricker
- a VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , MA , USA.,c Department of Psychiatry and Psychology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA
| | - Sara M Lippa
- d Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | | | - Susan M McGlynn
- a VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Laura J Grande
- b Department of Psychiatry , Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , MA , USA
| | - William P Milberg
- e Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric; Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) , Boston , MA , USA.,f Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Regina E McGlinchey
- e Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric; Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) , Boston , MA , USA.,f Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
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14
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Lopez KC, Leary JB, Pham DL, Chou YY, Dsurney J, Chan L. Brain Volume, Connectivity, and Neuropsychological Performance in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: The Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms. J Neurotrauma 2016; 34:16-22. [PMID: 26942337 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2015.4323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). To better understand their relationship, we examined neuroanatomical structures and neuropsychological performance in a sample of individuals with mTBI, with and without PTSD symptoms. Thirty-nine subjects with mTBI were dichotomized into those with (n = 12) and without (n = 27) significant PTSD symptoms based on scores on the PTSD Checklist. Using a region-of-interest approach, fronto-temporal volumes, fiber bundles obtained by diffusion tensor imaging, and neuropsychological scores were compared between the two groups. After controlling for total intracranial volume and age, subjects with mTBI and PTSD symptoms exhibited volumetric differences in the entorhinal cortex, an area associated with memory networks, relative to mTBI-only patients (F = 4.28; p = 0.046). Additionally, subjects with PTSD symptoms showed reduced white matter integrity in the right cingulum bundle (axial diffusivity, F = 6.04; p = 0.020). Accompanying these structural alterations, mTBI and PTSD subjects also showed impaired performance in encoding (F = 5.98; p = 0.019) and retrieval (F = 7.32; p = 0.010) phases of list learning and in tests of processing speed (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Processing Speed Index, F = 12.23; p = 0.001; Trail Making Test A, F = 5.56; p = 0.024). Increased volume and white matter disruptions in these areas, commonly associated with memory functions, may be related to functional disturbances during cognitively demanding tasks. Differences in brain volume and white matter integrity between mTBI subjects and those with mTBI and co-morbid PTSD symptoms point to neuroanatomical differences that may underlie poorer recovery of mTBI subjects who experience PTSD symptoms. These findings support theoretical models of PTSD and its relationship to learning deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Lopez
- 1 Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jacob B Leary
- 2 Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Dzung L Pham
- 1 Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yi-Yu Chou
- 1 Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John Dsurney
- 1 Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Leighton Chan
- 1 Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland.,2 Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, Maryland
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15
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Armistead-Jehle P, Cooper DB, Vanderploeg RD. The role of performance validity tests in the assessment of cognitive functioning after military concussion: A replication and extension. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2015; 23:264-73. [DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2015.1055564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas B. Cooper
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Rodney D. Vanderploeg
- Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences–Psychology Service, James A. Haley VAMC, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Departments of Psychology & Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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16
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Combs HL, Berry DTR, Pape T, Babcock-Parziale J, Smith B, Schleenbaker R, Shandera-Ochsner A, Harp JP, High WM. The Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Combined Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Returning Veterans. J Neurotrauma 2015; 32:956-66. [PMID: 25350012 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2014.3585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
United States veterans of the Iraqi (Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]) conflicts have frequently returned from deployment after sustaining mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and enduring stressful events resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A large number of returning service members have been diagnosed with both a history of mTBI and current PTSD. Substantial literature exists on the neuropsychological factors associated with mTBI and PTSD occurring separately; far less research has explored the combined effects of PTSD and mTBI. The current study employed neuropsychological and psychological measures in a sample of 251 OIF/OEF veterans to determine whether participants with a history of mTBI and current PTSD (mTBI+PTSD) have poorer cognitive and psychological outcomes than participants with mTBI only (mTBI-o), PTSD only (PTSD-o), or veteran controls (VC), when groups are comparable on intelligence quotient, education, and age. The mTBI+PTSD group performed more poorly than VC, mTBI-o, and PTSD-o groups on several neuropsychological measures. Effect size comparisons suggest small deleterious effects for mTBI-o on measures of processing speed and visual attention and small effects for PTSD-o on measures of verbal memory, with moderate effects for mTBI+PTSD on the same variables. Additionally, the mTBI+PTSD group was significantly more psychologically distressed than the PTSD-o group, and PTSD-o group was more distressed than VC and mTBI-o groups. These findings suggest that veterans with mTBI+PTSD perform significantly lower on neuropsychological and psychiatric measures than veterans with mTBI-o or PTSD-o. The results also raise the possibility of mild but persisting cognitive changes following mTBI sustained during deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Combs
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky
| | - David T R Berry
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Theresa Pape
- 2 Edward Hines Jr. Hospital , Hines, Illinois.,3 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Bridget Smith
- 2 Edward Hines Jr. Hospital , Hines, Illinois.,3 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois
| | - Randal Schleenbaker
- 5 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky.,6 Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Anne Shandera-Ochsner
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky.,7 Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic , Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Jordan P Harp
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Walter M High
- 5 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky.,6 Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Lexington, Kentucky
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17
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Sullivan MP, Griffiths GG, Moore Sohlberg M. Effect of posttraumatic stress on study time in a task measuring four component processes underlying text-level reading. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2014; 57:1731-1739. [PMID: 24686914 DOI: 10.1044/2014_jslhr-l-13-0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effect of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on 4 components underlying text-level reading comprehension. METHOD A group of 17 veterans with PTSD and 17 matched control participants took part. An experimental task required participants to read and study 3-sentence paragraphs describing semantic features associated with real and unreal objects. Each paragraph was followed by true-false statements that assessed knowledge access, text memory, inference, and integration. RESULTS The results revealed that the PTSD group took significantly longer than the control group to study the paragraphs. Although there was no group difference in test statement accuracy, the PTSD group also took significantly longer to respond to the test statements. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results provide evidence for the control theory of attention but suggest that more direct measures of task-irrelevant processing during text-level reading are needed. More important, the results begin to lay a foundation for developing not only diagnostic but also intervention strategies.
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18
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Norris JN, Sams R, Lundblad P, Frantz E, Harris E. Blast-related mild traumatic brain injury in the acute phase: Acute stress reactions partially mediate the relationship between loss of consciousness and symptoms. Brain Inj 2014; 28:1052-62. [DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2014.891761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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19
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O'Neil ME, Carlson KF, Storzbach D, Brenner LA, Freeman M, Quiñones AR, Motu'apuaka M, Kansagara D. Factors Associated with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans and Military Personnel: A Systematic Review. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2014; 20:1-13. [PMID: 24499707 DOI: 10.1017/s135561771300146x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common among military members who served in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND). We completed a systematic review to describe the cognitive, mental health, physical health, functional, social, and cost consequences of mTBI in Veteran and military personnel. Of 2668 reviewed abstracts, the 31 included studies provided very low strength evidence for the questions of interest. Cognitive, physical, and mental health symptoms were commonly reported by Veterans/military members with a history of mTBI. On average, these symptoms were not significantly more common in those with a history of mTBI than in those without, although a lack of significant mean differences does not preclude the possibility that some individuals could experience substantial effects related to mTBI history. Evidence of potential risk or protective factors moderating mTBI outcomes was unclear. Although the overall strength of evidence is very low due to methodological limitations of included studies, our findings are consistent with civilian studies. Appropriate re-integration services are needed to address common comorbid conditions, such as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, headaches, and other difficulties that Veterans and members of the military may experience after deployment regardless of mTBI history. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1-13).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lisa A Brenner
- 5 Denver VA Medical Center, VISN 19 MIRECC, Denver, Colorado
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20
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Shandera-Ochsner AL, Berry DTR, Harp JP, Edmundson M, Graue LO, Roach A, High WM. Neuropsychological effects of self-reported deployment-related mild TBI and current PTSD in OIF/OEF veterans. Clin Neuropsychol 2013; 27:881-907. [PMID: 23755991 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2013.802017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Current combat veterans are exposed to many incidents that may result in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While there is literature on the neuropsychological consequences of PTSD only (PTSD-o) and mTBI alone (mTBI-o), less has been done to explore their combined (mTBI+PTSD) effect. The goal of this study was to determine whether Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans with mTBI+PTSD have poorer cognitive and psychological outcomes than veterans with PTSD-o, mTBI-o, or combat exposure-only. The final sample included 20 OIF/OEF veterans with histories of self-reported deployment mTBI (mTBI-o), 19 with current PTSD (PTSD-o), 21 with PTSD and self-reported mTBI (mTBI+PTSD), and 21 combat controls (CC) (no PTSD and no reported mTBI). Groups were formed using structured interviews for mTBI and PTSD. All participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing, including neurocognitive and psychiatric feigning tests. Results of cognitive tests revealed significant differences in performance in the mTBI+PTSD and PTSD-o groups relative to mTBI-o and CC. Consistent with previous PTSD literature, significant differences were found on executive (switching) tasks, verbal fluency, and verbal memory. Effect sizes tended to be large in both groups with PTSD. Thus, PTSD seems to be an important variable affecting neuropsychological profiles in the post-deployment time period. Consistent with literature on civilian mTBI, the current study did not find evidence that combat-related mTBI in and of itself contributes to objective cognitive impairment in the late stage of injury.
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21
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Soble JR, Spanierman LB, Fitzgerald Smith J. Neuropsychological functioning of combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2013; 35:551-61. [PMID: 23672579 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2013.798398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the neuropsychological performance of 125 outpatient Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nonacute mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) (n = 66) and PTSD (n = 59) across multiple cognitive domains to determine whether mild TBI results in greater impairment among those with PTSD. Profile analyses revealed that veterans with PTSD and mild TBI did not differ significantly from those with just PTSD across domains, suggesting that comorbid mild TBI does not result in an additive effect. A norms-based comparison also revealed that neither group demonstrated impaired performance on any of the objective neuropsychological measures examined. However, both groups endorsed moderately elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety, indicating that comorbid psychopathology may contribute to subjective cognitive complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Soble
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
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22
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Neuropsychological outcomes of U.S. Veterans with report of remote blast-related concussion and current psychopathology. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012; 18:845-55. [PMID: 22687547 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617712000616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study explored whether remote blast-related MTBI and/or current Axis I psychopathology contribute to neuropsychological outcomes among OEF/OIF veterans with varied combat histories. OEF/OIF veterans underwent structured interviews to evaluate history of blast-related MTBI and psychopathology and were assigned to MTBI (n = 18), Axis I (n = 24), Co-morbid MTBI/Axis I (n = 34), or post-deployment control (n = 28) groups. A main effect for Axis I diagnosis on overall neuropsychological performance was identified (F(3,100) = 4.81; p = .004), with large effect sizes noted for the Axis I only (d = .98) and Co-morbid MTBI/Axis I (d = .95) groups relative to the control group. The latter groups demonstrated primary limitations on measures of learning/memory and processing speed. The MTBI only group demonstrated performances that were not significantly different from the remaining three groups. These findings suggest that a remote history of blast-related MTBI does not contribute to objective cognitive impairment in the late stage of injury. Impairments, when present, are subtle and most likely attributable to PTSD and other psychological conditions. Implications for clinical neuropsychologists and future research are discussed. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1-11).
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23
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Impaired response inhibition in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012; 18:917-26. [PMID: 22595028 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617712000458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can show impairments in executive control and increases in impulsivity. The current study examined the effects of PTSD on motor response inhibition, a key cognitive control function. A Go/NoGo task was administered to veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD based on semi-structured clinical interview using DSM-IV criteria (n = 40) and age-matched control veterans (n = 33). Participants also completed questionnaires to assess self-reported levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Performance measures from the patients (error rates and reaction times) were compared to those from controls. PTSD patients showed a significant deficit in response inhibition, committing more errors on NoGo trials than controls. Higher levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms were associated with higher error rates. Of the three symptom clusters, re-experiencing was the strongest predictor of performance. Because the co-morbidity of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and PTSD was high in this population, secondary analyses compared veterans with PTSD+mTBI (n = 30) to veterans with PTSD only (n = 10). Although preliminary, results indicated the two patient groups did not differ on any measure (p > .88). Since cognitive impairments could hinder the effectiveness of standard PTSD therapies, incorporating treatments that strengthen executive functions might be considered in the future. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1-10).
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Morissette SB, Woodward M, Kimbrel NA, Meyer EC, Kruse MI, Dolan S, Gulliver SB. Deployment-related TBI, persistent postconcussive symptoms, PTSD, and depression in OEF/OIF veterans. Rehabil Psychol 2012; 56:340-50. [PMID: 22121940 DOI: 10.1037/a0025462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A substantial proportion of the more than 2 million service members who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Understanding the long-term impact of TBI is complicated by the nonspecific nature of postconcussive symptoms (PCSs) and the high rates of co-occurrence among TBI, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. The goal of the present research was to examine the relations among TBI, persistent PCSs, and symptoms of PTSD and depression among returning OEF/OIF veterans. METHOD 213 OEF/OIF veterans (87% male) completed a semistructured screening interview assessing deployment-related TBI and current, persistent PCSs. Participants also completed self-report measures of combat exposure and current symptoms of PTSD and depression. RESULTS Nearly half (46%) of sampled veterans screened positive for TBI, the majority of whom (85%) reported at least one persistent PCS after removing PCSs that overlapped with PTSD and depression. Veterans with deployment-related TBI reported higher levels of combat exposure and symptoms of PTSD and depression. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the fit of 3 models of the relationships among TBI, combat exposure, persistent PCSs, PTSD, and depression. Consistent with hypotheses, the best-fitting model was one in which the effects of TBI on both PTSD and depression were fully mediated by nonoverlapping persistent PCSs. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of addressing persistent PCSs in order to facilitate the functional recovery of returning war veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra B Morissette
- Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, Texas, USA.
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Dolan S, Martindale S, Robinson J, Kimbrel NA, Meyer EC, Kruse MI, Morissette SB, Young KA, Gulliver SB. Neuropsychological sequelae of PTSD and TBI following war deployment among OEF/OIF veterans. Neuropsychol Rev 2012; 22:21-34. [PMID: 22350690 PMCID: PMC5032645 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-012-9190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are highly prevalent among Veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. These conditions are associated with common and unique neuropsychological and neuroanatomical changes. This review synthesizes neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies for both of these disorders and studies examining their co-occurrence. Recommendations for future research, including use of combined neuropsychological and advanced neuroimaging techniques to study these disorders alone and in concert, are presented. It is clear from the dearth of literature that addiitonal studies are required to examine and understand the impact of specific factors on neurocognitive outcome. Of particular relevance are temporal relationships between PTSD and mTBI, risk and resilience factors associated with both disorders and their co-occurrence, and mTBI-specific factors such as time since injury and severity of injury, utilizing comprehensive, yet targeted cognitive tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dolan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
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