This study investigated neurological status in 27 medication-free
outpatient Vietnam veterans meeting DSM-III-R criteria for posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) and 15 non-PTSD combat control subjects, all without
alcohol or drug dependence or abuse during the past year. Subjects
underwent neurological examination, neuropsychological testing, and
sleep-deprived EEG. PTSD subjects showed significantly more neurological
soft signs than non-PTSD subjects. Neither substance dependence/abuse nor
the more frequent history of developmental problems in PTSD subjects
accounted for this difference. There were no significant EEG or
neuropsychological testing group differences; however, there were
significant correlations between several neuropsychological test scores and
total neurological soft signs.Abstract Teaser