title: Determinants of subjective memory complaints in community-dwelling adults with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine to what extent chronic stress, depression and neurobehavioural consequences explained post-TBI subjective memory complaints (SMC).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, cross-sectional design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-nine persons who were 1-36 months post-injury provided data using interviews, chart reviews and surveys. Predictor variables included the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and sub-scales of the NFI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMC, according to the Neurobehavioural Functioning Inventory (NFI), was the main outcome variable. SMC could best be explained by increased age, months-since-injury, chronic situational stress and the frequency of somatic and communication difficulties, not depression (R(2)= 0.780, F = 97.39, [8, 152], p < 0.001). These findings suggest that, for persons in the chronic phase of recovery from their TBI, specific determinants other than general adjustment issues may apply. These include: increased chronic stress, age, somatic symptoms and communication difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported chronic situational stress is positively associated with self-reported memory complaints, as well as somatic and communication difficulties. The causal ordering of these relationships would be best understood with prospective designs using biological correlates of chronic stress to advance understanding of post-TBI depression in older adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA. pdq@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalpakjian
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giordani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult