Criterion validity of the neuropsychological assessment battery after traumatic brain injury

The performance of 54 patients with complicated mild-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) was evaluated on the Attention, Executive Functions, and Memory modules of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) and compared with that of 54 demographically matched healthy controls. All three NAB indices demonstrated statistically significant group differences and negative covariances with the duration of coma, with large effect sizes. The Numbers and Letters and Mazes subtests had the most consistent evidence for sensitivity to brain injury. The findings provide preliminary support for the criterion validity of the NAB in the assessment of patients with complicated mild-severe TBI.