EFFICACY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION FOR MILD-MODERATE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

The growing literature on cognitive rehabilitation is increasingly dem anding more evaluation related to the validity of such therapy. The cu rrent research addresses same of the criticisms of previous previous e fficacy studies and provides support for the effectiveness of cognitiv e rehabilitation according to a specific treatment protocol employed a t an outpatient rehabilitation program. Stringent subject selection cr iterion were utilized to maximize the validity of the statistical comp arisons of selected pre- and post- rehabilitation neuropsychological t est scores and cognitive level of functioning. Results supported impro vement in performance on selected neuropsychological rest scores and c ognitive functioning following cognitive rehabilitation. Limited valid ating evidence for behavioral indicators of level of cognitive functio ning were obtained through correlations of behavioral ratings to their corresponding neuropsychological test scores. Results suggest that tr aditional measures of efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation may be inse nsitive to tile cognitive sequalae of mild head injury due, in part, t o compensatory strategies invoked by the subjects. (C) 1997 National A cademy of Neuropsychology.