title: Pain and mild traumatic brain injury: the implications of pain severity on emotional and cognitive functioning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the effect of high chronic pain on (a) neuropsychological test performance and (b) self-reported emotional complaints in persons suffering from Postconcussional Disorders (PCD) after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-group comparative research design was employed.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient sample of 66 patients with mild TBI and PCD using the Ruff Neurobehavioural Inventory (RNBI) and a neuropsychological test battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to ANOVAs, no significant between-group differences were found on neuropsychological test performances; however, the high pain group had significantly more emotional residuals; particularly elevated on the RNBI were the Anger and Aggression, Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia and Suspicion sub-scales. Furthermore, an ANOVA found participants of the high pain group reporting significantly higher impairments on the RNBI Cognitive, Physical and Quality-of-Life composite scores and several RNBI sub-scales compared to their pre-morbid functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High chronic pain exacerbates the emotional aspect of PCD and, therefore, should be given special observance in treatment settings.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Clinical Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA. cyweyer@aol.com
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weyer Jamora
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ruff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index