Abstract(s)
This exploratory study intends to characterize the neuropsychological profile in
persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
using objective measures of cognitive performance. A neuropsychological battery of tests
for attention, memory and executive functions was administered to four groups: PTSD (n =
25), mTBI (n = 19), subjects with two formal diagnoses: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI/PTSD) (n = 6) and controls (n = 25). Confounding
variables, such as medical, developmental or neurological antecedents, were controlled and
measures of co-morbid conditions, such as depression and anxiety, were considered. The
PTSD and mTBI/PTSD groups reported more anxiety and depressive symptoms. They also
presented more cognitive deficits than the mTBI group. Since the two PTSD groups differ
in severity of PTSD symptoms but not in severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, the
PTSD condition could not be considered as the unique factor affecting the results. The
findings underline the importance of controlling for confounding medical and psychological co-morbidities in the evaluation and treatment of PTSD populations,
especially when a concomitant mTBI is also suspected.