Citation

Dretsch M, Bleiberg J, Williams K, Caban J, Kelly J, Grammer G, DeGraba T. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2015; 31(1): 23-29.

Affiliation

Department of Research, National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0000000000000109

PMID

25699618

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To examine the use of the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory to measure clinical changes over time in a population of US service members undergoing treatment of mild traumatic brain injury and comorbid psychological health conditions. SETTING:: A 4-week, 8-hour per day, intensive, outpatient, interdisciplinary, comprehensive treatment program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS:: Three hundred fourteen active-duty service members being treated for combat-related comorbid mild traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions.

DESIGN:: Repeated-measures, retrospective analysis of a single-group using a pretest-posttest treatment design. MAIN MEASURES:: Three Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory scoring methods: (1) a total summated score, (2) the 3-factor method, and (3) the 4-factor method (with and without orphan items).

RESULTS:: All 3 scoring methods yielded statistically significant within-subject changes between admission and discharge. The evaluation of effect sizes indicated that the 3 different Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory scoring methods were comparable.

CONCLUSION:: Findings indicate that the different scoring methods all have potential for assessing clinical changes in symptoms for groups of patients undergoing treatment, with no clear advantage with any one method.

Language: en