Acute confusion following traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, duration and symptoms associated with acute confusion/delirium among traumatic brain injury (TBI) neuro-rehabilitation admissions.


METHODS
Prospective evaluation of neurobehavioural impairments following TBI among inpatient neurorehabilitation admissions.


METHODS
Eighty-five consecutive TBI model system patients were evaluated using measures of orientation, cognition, motor restlessness and delirium.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine individuals met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--Fourth Edition Delirium Diagnostic Criteria (DDC) on initial evaluation and 42 of these resolved delirium during inpatient rehabilitation. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed significant unique associations of the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT), Delirium Rating Scale, Cognitive Test for Delirium and time elapsed since injury with DDC status.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that delirium is common among neuro-rehabilitation admissions with TBI. Use of a single measure (e.g. GOAT) will result in poor characterization of the multi-faceted symptom complex shown by patients with post-traumatic confusion.
Nakase-Thompson
Risa
R
Department of Neurphyschology, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. nakase@aol.com
Sherer
Mark
M
Yablon
Stuart A
SA
Nick
Todd G
TG
Trzepacz
Paula T
PT
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome