Cognitive abilities related to post-traumatic symptoms among refugees from the former Yugoslavia in psychiatric treatment
- 1 January 2003
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 57 (3), 191-198
- https://doi.org/10.1080/08039480310001346
Abstract
The overall aim was to study the relationship between post-traumatic symptoms and cognitive abilities among traumatized refugees from the former Yugoslavia, in psychiatric treatment. The results showed that a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as a higher level of post-traumatic symptoms, was significantly associated with poorer average cognitive performance. Three of four tests of fluid intelligence, and the Benton Visual Retention Test, assessing episodic memory, were the most discriminating. A specific constellation of PTSD symptoms, dominated by arousal and intrusive symptoms, had a significant overall correlation with intellectual performance. One implication of the study is that assessment of cognitive abilities might be advisable in this patient group, in particular when arousal and re-experiencing symptoms are frequent.Keywords
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