Traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairment in men who are homeless

To examine cognitive performance among a sample of men in a residential unit of an urban homeless shelter and to compare cognitive performance between those with and without a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

An exploratory, quantitative study of participants recruited through convenience sampling. Participants were screened for TBI using the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire, and cognitive function using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Data were analyzed to examine associations between TBI status and cognitive performance.

Thirty-four participants were recruited for the study: n = 12 with a positive and n = 22 with a negative screen for TBI. Both groups performed below norms in all cognitive domains measured by the RBANS. Those with a positive screen for TBI performed significantly worse on attention tasks than those with a negative screen for TBI (p = 0.026). RBANS scores were not associated with either mental health or substance abuse status.

A history of TBI was associated with generally poorer cognitive performance in the study sample. An improved awareness of TBI and cognitive dysfunction among service providers and routine TBI screening could improve treatment and service delivery for this population.