Neurocognitive performance in drug-dependent males and females with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms

Abstract

Sex differences in neurobiological mechanisms of substance dependence are well documented but studies of sex differences in associated neurocognitive deficits have produced inconsistent results. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comorbid with substance dependence and frequently affects neurocognition. Thus, we investigated the effects of sex and PTSD symptoms on sustained attention and inhibition abilities among 126 female and 297 male substance-dependent individuals (SDIs) using the Immediate Memory Test (IMT). Females with significant PTSD (PTSD+) symptoms demonstrated significantly impaired IMT performance relative to other participants. These results represent progress in efforts to delineate sex-specific risk factors for neurocognitive deficits among SDIs.

Keywords:

• Drug abuse
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Attention
• Inhibition
• Sex

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by R01 DA12828 to Eileen M. Martin. The first author's salary/involvement was partially supported by R01 DA021421 to Jasmin Vassileva. We thank Leslie Ladd and Sarah Wicks for assistance with data collection.

Notes

¹Throughout this manuscript we use the term “PTSD+” to indicate that a participant obtained a score or 50 or greater on the PCL–C. This value is one of the more conservative cutoffs employed in the PTSD literature and indicates that symptom type and severity, although consistent with DSM–IV criteria, are not independently diagnostic of PTSD.