An investigation of anosognosia following traumatic head injury

Anosognosia was studied in 32 traumatic head injured patients upon admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Anosognosia was objectively defined as a discrepancy between patient and staff ratings on the Patient Competency Rating Scale. Patients consistently rated themselves as having greater compentencies than staff and there was little change in the patient-staff rating differences over the course of rehabilitation. Consistent with previous literature, there was a tendency for anosognosia to be more pronounced in patients with right hemisphere injury. Implications for rehabilitation are discussed.