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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Exploring the Use of Isolated Expressions and Film Clips to Evaluate Emotion Recognition by People with Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 15, 2016
Streamlining screening of emotional function in Veterans with traumatic brain injury
Jennifer M Flaherty1,2, Robert J Spencer2, Lauren L Drag3
1Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Objectives:
This study examined how depression, anxiety, and sleep items from the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) predict results from longer inventories.
Method:
This was a retrospective review from 484, predominantly male (96.1%) Veterans, mean age 29.7 years, who underwent brief neuropsychological screening during a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants completed the NSI, insomnia severity index (ISI), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).
Results:
OVERALL,: 97.1% who endorsed "severe"/"very severe" anxiety on the NSI had significant anxiety on the HADS; 85% reporting "severe"/"very severe" depression on the NSI, had significant depression on the HADS; and 97.7% reporting "severe"/"very severe" sleep problems on the NSI, had significant sleep difficulties on the ISI.
Conclusion:
Close correspondence between "severe"/"very severe" symptoms on the NSI and lengthier checklists suggests additional checklists may be eliminated and individuals can be referred for mental health treatment. NSI reports of "mild"/"moderate" require further screening.
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