NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME AT 1-YEAR POST HEAD-INJURY

Neuropsychological outcome at 1 year postinjury was examined prospectively in representative groups of 436 adult head-injured participants and 121 general-trauma control participants. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological measures was administered. The head-injured group performed significantly worse than the trauma controls on most measures (p < .01). However, the magnitude and pervasiveness of the impairments depended on the severity of the head injury. This study provides information about expected ranges of impairment as a function of different severity levels and appropriate comparison values. The findings raise important questions about clinically held beliefs of differential sensitivity of neuropsychological measures. Furthermore, the substantial variability in outcome observed underscores the importance of examining factors that seem to exacerbate or mitigate the effects of brain damage.