title: Cognitive beliefs following severe traumatic brain injury: association with post-injury employment status.
abstract: In this exploratory study, the cognitive beliefs of 19 severely traumatically brain-injured (TBI) patients were assessed to determine their association with post-injury employment status (that is, full-time, part-time or unemployed). Cognitive measures included the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale, the Revised Internal-External Scale (RIES) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Patients who did not return to their pre-injury level of employment (n = 10) were found to have lower MHLC Internal, higher RIES Powerful Others locus of control beliefs, and higher BHS scores as compared with a group of patients who returned to their pre-injury employment status (n = 9). In addition, longer lengths of post-traumatic amnesia, longer hospital stays and lower-prestige occupations post-injury were associated with poorer employment status. No differences were present between the groups in age, years of education, Glasgow Coma Scale on admission, length of coma, months post-injury, or pre-injury occupation. These results suggest that cognitive beliefs are a potential target for further research in TBI outcome.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Research Unit, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lubusko
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stambrook
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D016896:Treatment Outcome