Relating Neuropsychological Indicators to Psychosocial Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury¹

Issue title: Outcome Evaluation

Guest editors: Karyl M. Hall

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rosenthal, Mitchell | Millis, Scott

Affiliations: Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Note: [1] The preparation of this manuscript was supported, in part, by a grant (G0087C2022) from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Abstract: This review provides a framework for understanding the predictive power and validity of neuropsychological tests which have been correlated with psychosocial outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Besides the methodological shortcomings of previous studies, reliance on single neuropsychological test scores or traditional measures alone may be a shortsighted approach. Multivariate and multidimensional procedures using a variety of metabolic, demographic, and neuropsychological measures may result in more accurate predictions of real-world behavior. Greater attention to the sensitivity of predictive measures and the required time frame for which prediction is sought is also necessary. It is further recommended that psychosocial outcome measures be chosen which encompass a broader definition of productivity and are more reflective of the many dimensions of community integration after TBI.

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-1992-2403

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 1-8, 1992