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ABSTRACT
The psychological characteristics of acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) have received limited research focus, despite empirical evidence of their relevance for subsequent psychological adjustment and early therapeutic intervention. This study addressed a wide range of psychological features in 47 individuals who were hospitalized as a result of acute mild TBI (mTBI). Participants were screened from amongst consecutive TBI admissions for moderate to severe brain injury, and for pre-injury neurological, psychiatric, or substance abuse histories. Clinical and content scale scores on the MMPI-2 were explored in relation to patient gender, age, level of education, and extent of cognitive complaints. The results revealed diverse psychosocial problem areas across the sample, the most common of which were somatic and cognitive complaints, compromised insight, and a naively optimistic self-perception. The mediating roles of injury severity and demographic variables are discussed. Clinical implications and specific recommendations are presented.
Notes
1Diagnostic criteria for PCS, as delineated in the ICD-10 and DSM-IV, include headache, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, and difficulties with concentration and memory. Other diagnoses that have been proposed for this combination of symptoms, particularly when they persist beyond weeks or months post-TBI, include undifferentiated somatoform disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (McCrea, Citation2008).
2The possibility that scores on VRIN, TRIN, F, or Fb might have been impacted by cognitive sequelae of TBI was investigated by correlating these scores with the GCS and days post-injury (DPI). The correlations with GCS and DPI were, respectively, −07 and .04 (VRIN), .10 and −.16 (TRIN), −.14 and −.03 (F), and −.14 and .05 (Fb), all ps > .05, nonsignificant.