Pre-injury crime, substance abuse, and neurobehavioural functioning after traumatic brain injury

There is limited information regarding the effects of pre-injury history of arrest or history of substance use on neurobehavioural functioning after brain injury. The current study included 211 patients with traumatic brain injury, who were seen for a follow-up neuropsychological evaluation in an outpatient setting. An effort was made to distinguish between (1) patients with a history of pre-injury arrests and patients without a history of pre-injury arrests, (2) patients classified as substance abusers and non-abusers, and (3) patients with and without a history of pre-injury illicit drug use on the basis of demographic characteristics, injury characteristics, and neurobehavioural functioning. Results indicate significant differences between patients with a history of pre-injury arrests and patients without a history of pre-injury arrests in terms of demographic and injury characteristics. Differences were also noted between persons classified as substance abusers and non-abusers in terms of demographic and injury characteristics, and neurobehavioural functioning. Clinical implications and future research are discussed.