NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF GULF-WAR SYNDROME

As part of a comprehensive multispecialty project, the present study r eports on the neurocognitive and psychological function of veterans wh o report Persian Gulf War-related symptoms. The neuropsychological and psychological performances of 26 ill Gulf War veterans were compared to 20 well veterans from the same military unit. Neurocognitive functi ons assessed included intelligence, abstraction and problem-solving, a ttention and concentration, memory and learning, language and visual-s patial function, and sensorimotor abilities. Psychological function wa s measured by self report questionnaires. Results indicated global and consistently poorer intellectual and neurocognitive function among th e ill veterans compared to the control veterans. A generalized pattern of neuropsychological deficit was evident for the ill veterans. Psych ological profiles of the ill veterans were similar to those in general medical patients. Based on these findings and results from the multis pecialty investigation, we conclude that some of the ill veterans have experienced neurotoxic injury resulting in chronic neuropsychological impairment that is related to their service in the Persian Gulf War. (C) 1997 National Academy Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.