Work

Influence of blast exposure on cognitive functioning in combat veterans.

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the contribution of blast-pressure severity to cognitive functioning beyond posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHOD: = 254, 86.22% male) completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) and Trail Making Test (TMT). The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Assessment of TBI, and the Salisbury Blast Interview evaluated PTSD diagnosis/severity, deployment TBI history/severity, and blast-exposure history/severity, respectively. RESULTS: = -2.01). CONCLUSION: Blast-pressure severity exacerbated the effects of mild TBI on a simple attention task, such that participants with TBI had gradual decrements in attention as blast severity increased. Veterans who incur a TBI and are exposed to blasts during deployment may experience persisting difficulties with cognitive functioning as a result of alterations in basic attention abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Neuropsychology

DOI: 10.1037/neu0000672

Authors: Sarah L. Martindale, Anna S. Ord, Jared A. Rowland

Institutions: W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers

Language: English

Topic: Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Subfield: Clinical Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs