Association between patient report of symptoms after mild head injury and neurobehavioural performance

Patients with closed-head injuries may have physical, affective, behavioural and memory problems that persist for weeks, months or years. Even patients with minor head trauma have been found to exhibit deficits in neurobehavioural performance. However, very little research has been done to examine the association between patient symptoms after minor head injury and neurobehavioural performance. The associations between five sets of symptoms (memory problems, neurological problems, confusion, neurasthenia and co-ordination) and five neurobehavioural areas (simple motor speed, response speed and attention, complex perceptual motor performance, visual memory, and learning) were examined in a group of 32 adults who had suffered mild to moderate head injury. Patients reported their symptoms with a four-point rating scale. Neurobehavioural functioning was assessed using computerized tests. Memory difficulties were the problems most frequently experienced by the patients and most closely associated with performance deficits.