RESUMO
The research examined the effects of alcohol and other variables on cognitive outcome after severe head injury. Alcohol consumption habitually and at the time of injury were strongly related, and both were related to age and educational level but not injury severity. Covariance analysis to remove the effects of age and education showed a reduction in the main effects, so that only alcohol consumption at injury was a significant predictor of memory, but not other cognitive areas late after injury. There were significant interactions between severity of injury (post-traumatic amnesia), and alcohol habitually or at time of injury, with increasing alcohol consumption increasing the size of the memory deficit. To have a short post-traumatic amnesia and have drunk heavily led to a worse memory score than that found in patients with a considerably longer post-traumatic amnesia who had drunk lightly or not at all.
Assuntos
Cognição/fisiologia , Traumatismos Craniocerebrais/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/fisiologia , Escolaridade , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estatística como Assunto , Ferimentos e Lesões/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
The rate and prediction of return to work was examined in 98 severely head injured patients during the first seven years after injury. The employment rate dropped from 86% before injury to 29% after. Younger patients, and those with technical/managerial jobs before injury were more likely to return to work than those over 45 years of age, or in unskilled occupations. Physical deficits were not related to return to work, but the presence of cognitive, behavioural, and personality changes was significantly related to a failure to return to work.
Assuntos
Lesões Encefálicas/reabilitação , Emprego , Fatores Etários , Cognição , Escolaridade , Humanos , Personalidade , Fatores Sexuais , Fatores de Tempo , Tolerância ao Trabalho ProgramadoRESUMO
A close relative of each of 42 severely head injured patients was interviewed at 5 years after injury, following initial study at 3, 6, and 12 months. Persisting severe deficits, in some cases worse than at 1 year, were primarily psychological and behavioural, although minor physical deficits, for example in vision, were also common. Relatives were under great strain; significantly more so than at 1 year. The best predictor of strain in the relative was the magnitude of behavioural and personality change in the patient.
