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Qualitative block design analysis in posttraumatic stress disorder
J J Vasterling1, C Rogers, E Kaplan
1Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. jennifer.vasterling@med.va.gov
Assessment
|October 19, 2000
Summary
Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed more errors in right-sided spatial tasks compared to those without PTSD. This suggests potential left-hemisphere brain differences in individuals with PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in combat veterans.
- Cerebral asymmetries are documented in emotional disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine Block Design performance in Vietnam combat veterans with and without PTSD.
- To investigate potential differences in cognitive processing and hemispheric activation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative and quantitative Block Design tasks were administered.
- Performance was compared between veterans with PTSD (n=23) and a control group without PTSD (n=19).
Main Results:
- PTSD group made more single block rotations.
- Errors in the PTSD group were more frequent in the right hemispace.
- No significant differences were found in configural errors, left hemispace errors, or quantitative measures.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest relative left-hemisphere hypoactivation in veterans with PTSD.
- Results align with prior research on cerebral asymmetries in emotional disorders.