Tm. Mcmillan et al., ASSESSMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC AMNESIA AFTER SEVERE CLOSED-HEAD INJURY -RETROSPECTIVE OR PROSPECTIVE, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 60(4), 1996, pp. 422-427
Background-Post-traumatic amnesia is considered to be the best single
indicator of the severity of closed head injury. Usually, it has been
estimated retrospectively. For practical reasons this also tends to be
the most common clinical method. It has been argued that prospective
assessment is more accurate and reliable, but this has never been eval
uated empirically in severe head injury.Methods-Post-traumatic amnesia
was initially assessed prospectively and later retrospectively by a s
eparate observer in the same patients. Results-The correlation between
the two methods was high. In addition, both measures significantly co
rrelated with other measures of severity of brain injury and with meas
ures of outcome. Conclusion-Retrospective measurement of post-traumati
c amnesia is a valid method.