Neuropsychology
-
Research suggests that individuals who are intoxicated at the time of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have worse cognitive outcome compared with those who are sober. Worse outcome in patients with day-of-injury intoxication might (a) be related to the increased magnitude of brain injury resulting from a variety of negative responses not present following TBI in nonintoxicated individuals, or (b) reflect the effect of pre-injury alcohol abuse that is prevalent in individuals intoxicated at the time of injury. Most studies in this area have focused on patients with moderate to severe TBIs, and on medium- to long-term neuropsychological outcome. ⋯ The prevalence of possible pre-injury alcohol abuse was 46.2%. Overall, the results suggest that pre-injury alcohol abuse, compared with day-of-injury alcohol intoxication, had the most influence on short-term neuropsychological outcome from uncomplicated mild TBI. However, the influence of pre-injury alcohol abuse was considered small at best.