A-05 Gender differences in veterans referred for neuropsychological evaluation in an outpatient neuropsychology consultation service

Abstract

Abstract Objective Women represent a growing population within the VA Healthcare System about which little is known from a neuropsychological perspective. The present study explored sex differences in veterans presenting for neuropsychological evaluation to delineate trends in demographics, referral questions, effort, and outcome diagnoses. Method A database derived from an outpatient neuropsychology clinic at a VA medical center spanning 2013 to 2019 was analyzed (n = 232 women/2642 men). Initial analyses explored demographic features of the full sample. Further analyses separated the sample into younger (n = 836 men, 155 women) and older adult (n = 1805 men, 77 women). Results Groups differed in age (t(1,2872) = 10.41, p < .001) and education (t(1,2830) = 6.68, p < .001). Men were older, less educated, and had greater vascular risk factors. In the younger group, men were more often referred for TBI (X2(1,1) = 7.27, p < .01) and women for multiple sclerosis (X2(1,1) = 13.56, p < .01). In the older group, men performed worse on effort measures (WMT IR: t(1,42.24) = 2.36, p < .05; WMT MC: t(1,327) = 2.57, p < .05; TOMM Trial 2: t(1,199) = 2.17, p < .05). Older women evidenced higher scores on GDS (t(1,43.04) = 2.94, p < .01) and were more commonly diagnosed with depression (X2(1,1) = 12.66, p < .01). Conclusions Sex differences in demographics, medical conditions, referral question, effort, and outcome diagnoses emerged in a large sample of veterans referred for outpatient neuropsychological assessment. These differences point to important diagnostic considerations for neuropsychologists in VA settings.