Neurocognitive Impairment Prediction of Alteration to Psychological Disorder in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Background and Aim : Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may present neurocognitive deficits within the first 24 h after trauma, which may lead to long-term functional impairment and change their mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neurocognitive impairment scales in patients with TBI to predict their psychological disorder.Methods : Eighty patients (aged 16–66 years: 66 % men and 34% women) with TBI participated in the study, which the mean age was 23.5 years-old. The most common causes of TBI was car accident multiple trauma (38%). All patients were evaluated at bedside during two months post-injury. Demographic and clinical data were registered. Neurocognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety and depression) and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (post-traumatic stress disorder) were used to measure psychological disorder.Results : The results showed a significant positive correlation between Recall (p=0.001), Language/Praxis (p=0.001), and Attention/Calculation (p=0.001) with psychological disorder. Meanwhile, psychological disorder accounted 4.1% recall, 4% language and praxis with 3.6% of variance for attention and calculation. No significant differences were found in orientation and registration when comparing patients with psychological disorder. Taken together, we found significant neurocognitive impairment in the psychological disorder of patients with TBI.Conclusion : These findings highlight the need to carefully examine the long-term implications of psychological disorder in TBI patients reported neurocognitive impairment after their injury.

Keywords:

Neurocognitive impairment , Psychological disorder , Traumatic Brain Injury