Executive function in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the influence of comorbid depression

AbstractThe present study assessed neuropsychological functions related to attention, executive function and everyday memory in a group of men with a diagnosis of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Twenty Bosnian male combat veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD were tested using the Sustained Attention to Response Task, the Hayling Sentence Completion Test, the Trail Making Test, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (verbal scales). Their performance was compared with age- and IQ-matched male war veterans with no PTSD. The study disclosed pervasive cognitive impairments with large effect sizes pertaining to attention, working memory, executive function, and memory. The effects did not appear to be attributable to alcohol abuse, loss of consciousness, or educational level. We speculate that, in the present group of combat veterans, PTSD was associated with dysfunction of a higher-level attentional resource which in turn affected the activity in other systems concerned with memory and thought.

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Stress hormones in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder caused by myocardial infarction and role of comorbid depression

Yearbook of Psychiatry and Applied Mental Health ◽

10.1016/s0084-3970(10)79372-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 372-374

Author(s):

P.F. Buckley

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Stress Hormones ◽

Comorbid Depression

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Influence of comorbid depression on fear in posttraumatic stress disorder: An fMRI study

Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging ◽

10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.01.010 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 155 (3) ◽

pp. 265-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Andrew H. Kemp ◽

Kim Felmingham ◽

Pritha Das ◽

Gerard Hughes ◽

Anthony S. Peduto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Comorbid Depression ◽

Fmri Study

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology and Comorbid Depressive Symptoms Among Abused Women Referred From Emergency Department Care

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.20.6.645 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 645-659 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sherry Lipsky ◽

Craig A. Field ◽

Raul Caetano ◽

Gregory L. Larkin

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Comorbid Depression ◽

Emergency Department Care ◽

Alcoholic Drinks ◽

Ptsd Symptomatology

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) as is comorbid depression. Comorbid depression may exacerbate PTSD severity and chronicity. This study sampled female IPV victims from an urban emergency department to assess the relationship between PTSD symptomatology in the previous 12 months and current depressive symptomatology and to evaluate independent predictors of PTSD symptomatology. Half of respondents had symptoms consistent with PTSD. Those with PTSD symptomatology had significantly higher mean total depression scores and mean scores on 3 of 4 depression subscales than those without PTSD. Depressive symptomatology, being married, sexual IPV, severity of physical IPV, and partner’s consumption of 5 or more alcoholic drinks per occasion at least once a month independently predicted PTSD symptomatology. Our findings underscore the important roles these factors play in IPV-related PTSD and the need for prompt identification and intervention of those at risk.

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