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Abstracts of 16th Annual Meeting

elements of the complex figure was the most effective strategy employed by subjects in this
sample because it placed fewer demands on the cognitive abilities typically corrupted in
neuropsychiatric patients (i.e., attention and working memory). In summary, the current study
provided initial clinical support for the usefulness of the fragmentation scoring system as a
measure of visual organization and encoding processes on the ROCE

Fuller, K. H., Monna, W., David, W., & Sanderlin, M.

Neuropsychological Functioning in Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Patients
With and Without Comorbid History of Traumatic Brain Injury.
Evaluation of possible cognitive dysfunction is of importance in the assessment of combat
veterans presenting with symptoms of PTSD. Presenting problems of these patients include
attention, concentration and memory difficulties which are generally similar to those associated with moderate to severe anxiety disorders. However, this population is also characterized by increased prevalence of cognitive risk factors, including traumatic brain injury
(TBI). The purpose of the current study is to provide a comparison of the neuropsychological
functioning between chronic PTSD patients with and without a history of TBI. Data
regarding cognitive test performance was gathered from consecutive admissions to an
inpatient treatment program for combat related PTSD (n = 145), and this sample was divided
into groups based on reported history of TBI (defined as LOC > 1 hour). Neuropsychological
test battery included measures of general intelligence (SILS), attention/concentration (stroop,
trails), Memory (WMS-R), and abstract reasoning (WAIS-R similarities). Results are presented as a series of means and standard deviations for these two groups, which are designed
to assist clinicians in interpreting test results obtained from individuals reporting PTSD
symptoms. Both groups were found to differ significantly from expected values based on
previously published normative information.
Furgueson, C.
The Efficacy of Ritalin for ADHD: Issues of Intelligence and Executive Function.
This study examined the effectiveness of Ritalin as a treatment for disorders of executive
function, attention, and concentration among children diagnosed with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ADHD and
Conduct Disorder. It was hypothesized that treatment would result in increased executive
function, self-monitoring, and goal directed behavior. All subjects were randomly assigned to
a treatment (n = 25) or a control group (n = 25), and tested pre and post treatment. After
controlling for Verbal IQ differences between the two groups, no treatment effect was
demonstrated. Although Ritalin has been shown effective in the treatment of behavior
problems associated with ADHD, this study suggests that this effect does not extend to the
cognitive aspects of this disorder.

Gage, R., & Hartlage, L. C.

Utility of Microsmia Testing in Litigated Minor TBI Cases.
In litigated cases involving traumatic brain injury, there is typically need to document both
whether brain injury has occurred; and whether a trauma or injury at issue was etiologic in
whole or part in he event brain injury is documented. Considerable experience and research
with CT and related neurodiagnostic procedures have indicated their general lack of sensitivity to and utility for such purposes. In deceleration type injury such as is common in many
motor vehicle injuries, whether or not contact between skull and some external object has
occurred, there is potential for tear injury involving anterior portions of the brain abrading
bony orbit surfaces. Although assessment of such injury is not traditionally included in
neuropsychological examination it can be easily incorporated into comprehensive neurop-