Clinical Characteristics of Memory Disturbance in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Referred for Mental Disabilitiy Evaluation / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of memory disturbance caused by traumatic brain injury. METHODS: We measured the memory functions of 90 patients who complained of memory impairment after traumatic brain injury and were referred for mental disability evaluation, using Rey-Kim Memory Test. The patients were divided into three groups according to Memory Quotient and brain imaging studies. We also examined their intelligence and emotional characteristics using K-WAIS and MMPI. RESULTS: 1) Among the patients who complained of memory impairment and had abnormal brain imaging after traumatic brain injury, more than half showed no actual memory disturbance. 2) The group with actual memory disturbance showed normal verbal short-term memory but showed deficits in verbal long-term memory. And their visuospatial functions were preserved but visual short- and long-term memory were impaired. 3) There was notable correlation between memory function and intelligence in patients with traumatic brain injury. 4) The group with abnormal brain imaging showed more social withdrawal than the group without abnormal brain imaging. The group without abnormal brain imaging showed more somatization than the group with abnormal brain imaging. CONCLUSION: We suggest the special memory function test as well as brain imaging studies for patients who complain of memory impairment after traumatic brain injury.