The use of the BNI screen for higher cerebral functions in assessing disorientation after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the use of the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS) in assessing disorientation in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the acute phases of rehabilitation.


METHODS
Persons with TBI (n = 65) were compared with patients with spinal cord injury (SCI; n = 18) and to controls (n = 35).


METHODS
Inpatient neurorehabilitation unit.


METHODS
Orientation items from the BNIS measuring time (day, month, date of month, year) and place (city and hospital).


RESULTS
TBI patients showed a significantly greater proportion of incorrect responses to time and place compared with the SCI and normal control groups. There was a greater accuracy on orientation to place compared with orientation to time, and date of month produced the lowest rate of accuracy in all three groups. The single best predictor of disorientation to time was increasing age, and increasing age was most associated with disorientation to date of month.


CONCLUSIONS
The BNIS was shown to be a sensitive measure of disorientation in TBI patients and yielded similar patterns of performance as documented by other measures.
Borgaro
Susan R
SR
Section of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013-4496, USA. sborgar@chw.edu
Kwasnica
Christina
C
Cutter
Nancy
N
Alcott
Sally
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome