Prospective memory in adults with traumatic brain injury: An analysis of perceived reasons for remembering and forgetting

Abstract

Reasons for prospective remembering and forgetting after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were investigated using Ellis' (1996) five phases of prospective memory as a framework. Participants were 38 individuals with severe TBI and 34 controls. Participants self-rated their perceived reasons for prospective remembering and forgetting using section C of the Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory (CAPM). Significant others also rated participants using the same scale. Analyses were conducted to examine the effect of group membership (TBI or control) on reported reasons for prospective remembering and forgetting. Findings highlighted the TBI group's difficulties with encoding, performance interval, and execution phases of prospective remembering.

Acknowledgments

This research project was supported by funding from the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The authors would like to thank Dr Jill White for her work in developing the questionnaire, Ms Hannah Gill for her help with the data analysis, the occupational therapy staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital for their assistance with data collection, and all of the participants and their friends and relatives for taking part in the study.