The Relationship Between Perceived Ability and Performance on Cognitive Testing in Special Operations Forces Members

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

3:32 PM – 3:37 PM

Location: Station 7

Presenting Author(s)

Allison Morgan, MA

Clinical Research Coordinator
Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, United States

Non-presenting Author(s)

CW

Caroline Wisialowski

Clinical Research Coordinator
Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program
Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
LB

Lauren Brenner, PhD, CBIS

Clinical Psychologist
Home Base Program: Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
EL

Emily Lubin

Clinical Research Coordinator
Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, United States
Mary A. Iaccarino, MD

Assistant Professor
Harvard/Spaulding
West Newton, Massachusetts, United States

Research Objectives: To investigate the relationship between perceived cognitive ability and performance on neuropsychological testing in Special Operations Forces (SOF) service members and veterans.

Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain results from neuropsychological testing and self-report measures. Participants were randomized using a random number generator. Exclusionary criteria included missing full-scale IQs or cognitive domain scores on the NSI.

Setting: Neuropsychological testing was conducted as a part of a comprehensive assessment at a multiday evaluation program at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Home Base program.

Participants: The participants (N=128) in this study presented for a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment after experiencing mild traumatic brain injury. The participants in this study were male SOF service members or veterans.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS IV), the cognitive domain of the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), and emotional self-report measures including the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Results: Results indicate that despite scoring in the average to superior range on intelligence testing, many SOF service members and veterans rate their cognitive health as poor or mildly poor. The average full-scale IQ score for these participants was 111 (71st percentile), only 4 SOF members scored below the average range on neuropsychological testing. However, only 12 of 128 SOF members rated their cognitive abilities as broadly normal.

Conclusions: The results indicate that SOF service members may experience a disconnect between their perceived and actual cognitive abilities. This information may be useful to providers as they work with this population to address their cognitive, physical, and psychiatric concerns.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no disclosures to report.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the relationship between self-reported cognitive complaints and cognitive testing performance in special operations forces.
Identify the profile of a special operator presenting with a history of mild traumatic brain injury.
To highlight the discrepancy between a service member’s cognitive performance and their perceived functioning in order to help providers better serve them in a clinical setting.