title: Neuropsychological dysfunction in severe accidental electrical shock: two case reports.
abstract: There has been a relative absence of studies that have longitudinally examined the neuropsychological profiles of women who have sustained severe accidental electrical shocks. A case is reported of a college-educated woman who received an estimated 120-V electrical shock. Neuropsychological assessments conducted at 2 months, and at 1 and 2 years postinjury, revealed a diversity of deficits indicative of diffuse, mild to moderate neurocognitive dysfunction, as well as symptomatology consistent with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. For comparison, a second case of a man who received a 69,000-Velectrical injury is also presented. Although only minimal neurocognitive deficits were observed in this individual, he exhibited a similar psychological profile. The results of this study are discussed in light of the contrasting neurocognitive findings but consistent psychological presentations across the two cases.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, USA.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Brelsford
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McArdle