Citation

Ciurli P, Formisano R, Bivona U, Cantagallo A, Angelelli P. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2011; 26(2): 116-126.

Affiliation

IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome; Department of Neuroscience/Rehabilitation, Hospital and University of Ferrara, Ferrara; and Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0b013e3181dedd0e

PMID

20485191

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize neuropsychiatric symptoms in a large group of individuals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to correlate these symptoms with demographic, clinical, and functional features. METHODS: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), a frequently used scale to assess behavioral, emotional, and motivational disorders in persons with neurological diseases, was administered to a sample of 120 persons with severe TBI. Controls were 77 healthy subjects. RESULTS: A wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms was found in the population with severe TBI: apathy (42%), irritability (37%), dysphoria/depressed mood (29%), disinhibition (28%), eating disturbances (27%), and agitation (24%). A clear relationship was also found with other demographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSION: Neuropsychiatric disorders constitute an important part of the comorbidity in populations with severe TBI. Our study emphasizes the importance of integrating an overall assessment of cognitive disturbances with a specific neuropsychiatric evaluation to improve clinical understanding and treatment of persons with TBI.

Language: en