Cognitive and functional recovery at 6 and 12 months post-TBI

• Published in: Brain injury Vol. 14; no. 11; pp. 987 - 996
• Main Authors: NOVACK, Thomas A, ALDERSON, Amy L, BUSH, Beverly A, MEYTHALER, Jay M, CANUPP, Kay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 01-11-2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Automobile Driving; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Injuries - physiopathology; Brain Injuries - psychology; Brain Injuries - rehabilitation; Cognition; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glasgow Coma Scale; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function; Social Adjustment; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Human; Nervous system diseases; Craniocerebral; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Neuropsychological test; Psychometrics; Cognition; Long term; Trauma; Cerebral disorder; Central nervous system disease; Skull disease; Evolution
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699050050191922

Outcome studies examining recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) often fail to provide a clear understanding of the time course of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural recovery. The present study represents an effort to prospectively study individuals with TBI at fixed intervals, specifically 6 and 12 months post-injury with a window of +/- 1 month. Seventy-two individuals with new-onset TBI underwent neuropsychological evaluation and clinical interview at 6 and 12 months post-injury. Results revealed significant improvements in cognitive abilities, including memory, processing speed, language abilities, and constructional skills. There were significant gains in community integration and involvement in productive activities, but limitations in driving activities remained. Although individuals with mild-moderate TBI performed better than individuals with severe TBI, both groups demonstrated equivalent rates of recovery across domains. The results of this study provide important information regarding the time course of TBI recovery.