A-24 An Evaluation of Anxiety, Depression, and Neuropsychological Performance before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective High levels of depression and anxiety have been consistently linked to performance on neuropsychological evaluations. In this regard, recent evidence of increased emotional distress due to COVID-19 may exacerbate impairment typically demonstrated on evaluations. The current study examined differences in the severity of depression and anxiety ratings reported before and during COVID-19, and the relationship between mood and cognitive functioning before and during COVID-19. Method 75 adults seeking neuropsychological assessment services from a private outpatient clinic in January 2020 and 2021 were included in the study. Depression, anxiety, and cognitive functioning were measured using the BDI-II, BAI, RDS, FAS, and Trailmaking test. T-tests were conducted to examine mood and cognitive differences between groups. Correlations were used to assess the relationship between mood and cognitive functioning. Results T-tests revealed no significant differences between groups for anxiety, depression, performance validity, verbal fluency, and Trailmaking tests. No significant relationship was observed between reported mood level and cognitive functioning before and during COVID-19. A significant correlation was observed between age and anxiety, which showed that older adults reported less anxiety. All statistical findings will be reported fully in the poster. Conclusions No significant change in emotional distress was found between pre- and during COVID-19 groups. The absence of measurable change may also suggest measures commonly employed should be reviewed and possibly modified to better capture the distress experienced by patients during the pandemic.

A-126 One Versus Two or More Head Injuries: A Comparison of Cognitive Performance and Emotional Correlates

Objective The current study compares performance on measures of executive functioning in individuals with a history of 2 or more mTBI versus those with a single documented mTBI. Specific interaction with emotional distress was explored. Method A database from neuropsychological assessment of individuals noting deficits following head injury including 273 individuals provided a sample of 174 males, 98 females (one case missing data); mean age = 21.82 years; mean education = 10.16 years. Executive functioning was measured using the Trails Making Test Form B (TMT-B), Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) Design Fluency, and Semantic Fluency instruments. Emotional distress was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results MANCOVA was employed to determine the effect of multiple head injuries versus one upon cognitive performance after controlling for depression and anxiety. Group differences between those with one versus 2 or more mTBI were present (Wilk’s η = 0.907, F (3, 125) = 4.256, p = 007, Partial η2 = 0.093). Significant differences were not noted with regard to emotional distress (BAI, p = 0.97 l BDI, p = 0.87). Between subject effects identified significant differences between groups in performance on DKEFS Design Fluency (p = 0.05) and Semantic Fluency (P = 0.04), while significant groups differences were not evident Trailmaking Test B performance (P = 0.20). Conclusion Overall, those who had previous concussions performed better on measures of executive functioning. Measures of emotional functioning were not a significant covariate of cognitive performance. Implications and limitations of the current study will be discussed.

The Influence of Ergotamine Abuse on Psychological and Cognitive Functioning

Migraine patients abusing ergotamine often have chronic daily headaches associated with tiredness, sleep and memory disturbances, and reduced general well‐being. We quantified psychological and cognitive functioning in 12 migraine patients with and 12 without ergotamine abuse (≥ 5 days/week for ≥ 6 months) and 12 healthy controls. Psychological functioning assessed by Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90) and Profile Of Mood State (POMS), was impaired in ergotamine abusers compared to healthy controls. Cognitive functioning divided into four domains: attention (critical flicker frequency analysis and mental control subscale of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), speed of information processing (reaction time tasks and lexical decision tasks), memory (four subscales of the WMS) and cognitive flexibility (trailmaking test and WMS digits backwards), was impaired in ergotamine abusers in speed of information processing and cognitive flexibility. These differences disappeared after correction for total SCL‐90 scores. In conclusion, ergotamine abuse is associated with high psychological distress but not with structural impaired cognitive functioning.