title: Pilot Study of Neurological Soft Signs and Depressive and Postconcussive Symptoms During Recovery From Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI).
abstract: Neurological soft signs (NSSs) tap into a variety of perceptual, motor, and cognitive functions. The authors administered a battery of NSSs serially to a group of 14 pilot patients recruited from an emergency room after they experienced a mild traumatic brain injury. Patients were seen within 96 hours after injury, and again 30 and 90 days later. Measures of balance, mood, and postconcussive symptoms and impairment were also obtained. NSSs and balance improved across visits. Across visits, NSSs and balance were not significantly associated with any postconcussive outcome measures, although depressive symptoms were. Initial neurological impairment appeared to predict subsequent residual postconcussive symptoms and impairment, but this result requires replication.
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Nellie E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Tamara V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Gurvits
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Nagurney
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Zafonte
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (MSG, NEW, JDS, RKP); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (MSG, JTN, RDZ, RKP); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA (RDZ); the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, (MSG, RDZ); and the Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, (JTN).
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pitman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult