Algorithm for symptom attribution and classification following possible mild traumatic brain injury

Theresa Louise Bender Pape, Amy A. Herrold, Bridget Smith, Judith Babcock-Parziale, Jordan Harp, Anne Shandera-Ochsner, Shonna Jenkins, Charlesnika T. Evans, Randal Schleenbaker, Walter M. High

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To present a heuristic model of a symptom attribution and classification algorithm (SACA) for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Setting: VA Polytrauma sites. Participants: 422 Veterans. Design: Cross-sectional. Main Measures: SACA, Comprehensive TBI Evaluation (CTBIE), Structured TBI Diagnostic Interview, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2-RF), Letter Memory Test, Validity-10. Results: SACA and CTBIE diagnoses differ significantly (P <.01). The CTBIE, compared with SACA, attributes 16% to 500% more symptoms to mTBI, behavioral health (BH), mTBI + BH and symptom resolution. Altering SACA criteria indicate that (1) CTBIE determination of cognitive impairment yields 27% to 110% more mTBI, mTBI + BH and symptom resolution diagnoses, (2) ignoring timing of symptom onset yields 32% to 76% more mTBI, mTBI + BH and Other Condition diagnoses, (3) Proportion of sample having questionably valid profiles using structured TBI diagnostic interview and MMPI-2-RF and Letter Memory Test is 26% whereas with CTBIE item number 23 and Validity-10 is 6% to 26%, (4) MMPI-2-RF F-scale is the only measure identifying Veterans with posttraumatic amnesia for more than 24 hours as having questionably valid profiles. Conclusions: Symptom attribution-based diagnoses differ when using status quo versus the SACA. The MMPI-2-RF F-scale, compared with the Validity-10 and Letter Memory Test, may be more precise in identifying questionably valid profiles for mTBI + BH. The SACA provides a framework to inform clinical practice, resource allocation, and future research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E10-E22
JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
Volume31
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 13 2016

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Diagnostic accuracy
  • Diagnostic criteria
  • Mental health conditions
  • Mild traumatic brain injury
  • mTBI
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • PTSD
  • Veteran

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Clinical Neurology

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