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Cognitive impairment and functioning in PTSD related to intimate partner violence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2009

ELIZABETH W. TWAMLEY ,
CAROLYN B. ALLARD ,
STEVEN R. THORP ,
SONYA B. NORMAN ,
SHADHA HAMI CISSELL ,
KELLY HUGHES BERARDI ,
ERIN M. GRIMES  and
MURRAY B. STEIN
ELIZABETH W. TWAMLEY*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
CAROLYN B. ALLARD
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
STEVEN R. THORP
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
SONYA B. NORMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
SHADHA HAMI CISSELL
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
KELLY HUGHES BERARDI
Affiliation:
Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
ERIN M. GRIMES
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
MURRAY B. STEIN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California Psychiatry Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Elizabeth W. Twamley, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 140 Arbor Drive (0851), San Diego, CA 92103. E-mail: etwamley@ucsd.edu
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Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with neuropsychological impairments across multiple domains, but consensus regarding the cognitive profile of PTSD has not been reached. In this study of women with PTSD related to intimate partner violence (n = 55) and healthy, demographically similar comparison participants (NCs; n = 20), we attempted to control for many potential confounds in PTSD samples. All participants were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery emphasizing executive functioning, including inhibition, switching, and abstraction. NCs outperformed PTSD participants on most neuropsychological measures, but the differences were significant only on speeded tasks (with and without executive functioning components). The PTSD group’s mean performance was within the average range on all neuropsychological tests. Within the PTSD group, more severe PTSD symptoms were associated with slower processing speed, and more severe dissociative symptoms were associated with poorer reasoning performance. These results suggest that women with PTSD related to intimate partner violence demonstrate slower than normal processing speed, which is associated with the severity of psychiatric symptoms. We speculate that the cognitive slowing seen in PTSD may be attributable to reduced attention due to a need to allocate resources to cope with psychological distress or unpleasant internal experiences. (JINS, 2009, 15, 879–887.)

Keywords

Posttraumatic stress disorderTraumaStressNeuropsychologicalCognitionDomestic violence
Type
Symposia
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 6 , November 2009 , pp. 879 - 887
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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