Cognitive appraisal accuracy moderates the relationship between injury severity and psychosocial outcomes in traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently results in significant changes in physical, cognitive and emotional status. Outcomes after TBI may be related to accurate appraisal of these changes. This study examined the relationship between cognitive appraisal accuracy and psychosocial outcomes in TBI survivors.


METHODS
Participants were male and female TBI survivors (n=103) who were at least 6 months post-injury and a family member of each survivor. Appraisal accuracy was assessed using self- and observer-report measures of perceived cognitive difficulties. Family members also completed a measure of psychosocial function. Hierarchical regression techniques were used to determine whether cognitive appraisal accuracy accounted for a significant proportion of variance in psychosocial outcomes.


RESULTS
Study findings indicated cognitive appraisal accuracy moderated the relationship between injury severity and aspects of psychosocial function.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that brain injury outcomes may be improved when an individual is able to accurately assess limitations.
Kervick
R B
RB
Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724, USA. kervick@email.arizona.edu
Kaemingk
K L
KL
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017028:Caregivers; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012647:Self-Assessment