Archives of general psychiatry
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Arch. Gen. Psychiatry · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyAssociation of time since deployment, combat intensity, and posttraumatic stress symptoms with neuropsychological outcomes following Iraq war deployment.
Previous research has demonstrated neuropsychological changes following Iraq deployment. It is unknown whether these changes endure without subsequent war-zone exposure or chronic stress symptoms. ⋯ In this study of army soldiers deployed to the Iraq war, only PTSD symptoms (among soldiers back from deployment for 1 year) were associated with a neuropsychological deficit (reduced attention). Greater combat intensity was associated with enhanced reaction time, irrespective of time since return.