Influence of blast exposure on cognitive functioning in combat veterans.
Sarah L. Martindale, Anna S. Ord, Jared A. Rowland
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).