Using a temporal discounting paradigm to measure decision-making and impulsivity following traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study reports on a pilot study using a temporal discounting paradigm and a standardized impulsivity questionnaire to examine decision-making in a group of brain injured patients and age matched controls.


METHODS
Participants were asked to choose between a larger reward available at a specified time in the future and smaller reward available immediately.


RESULTS
Each of the two groups demonstrated temporal discounting; that is, the subjective value of the reward decreased with increasing delay. However, the TBI group discounted more than the controls, suggesting that their decision-making was more impulsive.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a temporal discounting paradigm might be a useful method of assessing decision-making after head trauma, especially in cases where capacity to make decisions about financial awards is an issue or in respect of money management generally.
McHugh
Louise
L
Department of Psychology, Brain Injury Research Group, University of Wales, Swansea, UK. l.mchugh@swansea.ac.uk
Wood
Rodger L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D012201:Reward; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult