Neurologic Soft Signs in Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Cavum septum pellucidum in monozygotic twins discordant for combat exposure: relationship to posttraumatic stress disorder

“…Nonetheless, this pattern suggests that vulnerability to PTSD is not mediated directly by the abnormal CSP itself but rather indirectly by some (familial) neurodevelopmental third factor(s), which its presence reflects. Thus, the results of the present study bolster the evidence for nonspecific neurologic vulnerability to PTSD provided by findings of increased neurologic soft signs and histories of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in this disorder (Gurvits et al 1993(Gurvits et al , 2000(Gurvits et al , 2002. Table 1 Group Mean (SD) Demographic, Psychometric, and Cavum Septum Pellucidum Data Ex, combat-exposed; Ux, combat-unexposed; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; CAPS, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale; CSP, cavum septum pellucidum.…”

Histories of childhood maltreatment in schizophrenia: Relationships with premorbid functioning, symptomatology, and cognitive deficits

“…A number of investigations have demonstrated associations between childhood maltreatment and poorer cognitive functioning in adulthood, including reduced intellectual and academic functioning (Perez and Widom, 1994), defi cits on tasks of verbal learning and memory (Bremner et al, 1995), working memory (Raine et al, 2001), and executive control (Mezzacappa et al, 2001), impaired eye-tracking (Irwin et al, 1999), and a higher rate of neurological soft signs (Gurvits et al, 2000). Fewer investigations have examined the relationship between maltreatment during childhood and neurocognitive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.…”

Neuropsychological function in college students with and without posttraumatic stress disorder

“…Retrospective case-control studies suggest that lower IQ is a risk factor for development of PTSD (McNally and Shin, 1995;Macklin et al, 1998;Gurvits et al, 2000). It may be that individuals with lower IQs cope less effectively with trauma on a cognitive level, or that those with higher IQs cope more effectively.…”