Normative Data for the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) and Post-Concussion Symptom Profiles Among TBI, PTSD, and Nonclinical Samples

Abstract

The Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) is a self-report measure of symptoms commonly associated with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) that may emerge after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Despite frequent clinical use, no NSI norms have been developed. Thus, the main objective of this study was to establish NSI normative data using the four NSI factors (i.e., vestibular, somatic, cognitive, and affective) identified by Vanderploeg, Silva, et al. (2014) among nonclinical epidemiological samples of deployed and non-deployed Florida National Guard members as well as a reference sample of Guard members with combat-related mTBI. In addition, NSI subscale profile patterns were compared across four distinct subgroups (i.e., non-deployed-nonclinical, deployed-nonclinical, deployed-mTBI, and deployed-PTSD). The deployed-nonclinical group endorsed greater PCS symptom severity than the non-deployed group, and the mTBI group uniformly endorsed more symptoms than both nonclinical groups. However, the PTSD group endorsed higher symptom severity relative to the other three subgroups. As such, this highlights the non-specificity of PCS symptoms and suggests that PTSD is associated with higher symptom endorsement than mTBI.

Keywords:

• Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory
• Normative data
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), and by VA Grant SDR HSR&D #08-411, TBI Screening Instruments, processed to Rodney D. Vanderploeg, and VA HSR&D Grant CCN 06-164 processed to Steven G. Scott. Further support was provided by James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, and its HSR&D/RR&D Center of Excellence, and the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC).

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or U.S. Government.