Long-Term Psychosocial Adjustment Following Very Severe Closed Head Injury

This study examined the cognitive, psychological, and social functioning of 18 community-dwelling patients who had experienced a very severe closed head injury at least 18 months previously and still required contact with rehabilitation services. Results from the patients were compared to those obtained by a group of normal control subjects matched on age, sex, years of education, and an estimate of premorbid IQ. Information on the subjects' behavior was also obtained from their significant others. Results showed that the closed head injury patients exhibited deficits in their cognitive and social functioning but showed no signs of emotional or psychiatric disturbance. Attempts to find a relationship between the patients' cognitive impairment and their social functioning were only partially successful.