Rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) exposure have increased over time (CDC, 2022). This pattern of increased TBI risk is additionally... Show moreRates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) exposure have increased over time (CDC, 2022). This pattern of increased TBI risk is additionally associated with risk for development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; APA, 2013). Ongoing PTSD symptomology can lead to neuropsychological profiles in which deficits are more pronounced for verbally constrained performances when compared to nonverbal performances. However, less is known about this performance discrepancy in patients with a history of head injury with comorbid PTSD. Moreover, the little existing research focuses on the domains of executive functioning, learning, and memory, with little to no research on processing speed discrepancies. These findings could have significant implications for healthcare and cognitive intervention pre- and post-mTBI and/or trauma exposure because this discrepancy may impact clinical assessment and subsequent diagnosis. The analysis will include 1) determination of statistically and clinically significant differences for those with co-occurring PTSD and mTBI, and 2) examine within-subjects differences with and without the inclusion of covariates. The present research found that there are no differences between those with co-occurring PTSD and head injury compared to individuals without a co-occurring diagnosis, in addition to no significant discrepancies notes within the PTSD and mTBI group alone Show less
The Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) is a widely used measure of postconcussive symptoms in veteran populations. Previous psychometric... Show moreThe Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) is a widely used measure of postconcussive symptoms in veteran populations. Previous psychometric studies used samples of veterans with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and high rates of comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The present study aims to determine the best-fitting factor structure of the NSI in veterans with PTSD and to evaluate the relationship between the best-fitting factor structure and the symptom clusters of PTSD. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) found that 4-factors had the best overall fit in veterans with PTSD. Correlational analyses found high rates of correspondence between the cognitive and affective factors of the NSI and the alterations in cognition and mood and hyperarousal symptom clusters of PTSD. The analyses reveal that symptoms of the NSI cluster in the same way in a sample of veterans with PTSD as they do in veterans with mTBI, suggesting that lingering postconcussive symptoms in veterans with PTSD are better characterized as non-specific generalized health symptoms on the NSI. Show less
