Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2002
Impact of early intervention on outcome following mild head injury in adults.
The impact of mild head injury is variable and determinants of outcome remain poorly understood. Results of previous intervention studies have been mixed. ⋯ The provision of an information booklet reduces anxiety and reporting of ongoing problems.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Sep 2002
Characteristics of patients with persistent severe disability and medically unexplained neurological symptoms: a pilot study.
This study audited 25 patients (21 female) from Oxfordshire who had been referred to either the liaison psychiatry or the neurological disability service between 1992 and 1998, reported a Barthel activities of daily living index score < 20 or a global assessment of functioning score of < or = 30, and had no pathology to explain their neurological disability. Levels of motor impairment, disability, mood, and cognitive status were assessed using standardised scales, and all patients were assigned a psychiatric diagnosis according to the International classification of diseases, 10th revision. Of the 25 patients, 13 had a motor conversion disorder, 8 had diverse somatoform disorders, and 3 had chronic fatigue syndrome. ⋯ The mean (SD) Barthel score was 14.1 (3.3) and the mean (SD) Frenchay activity index score was 12.9 (7.5). All were unemployed and receiving a disability living allowance, and some had benefits of up to pound 1815 a month. This small but significant group of disabled patients had a variety of psychiatric and neurological diagnoses and used considerable health care resources.