AWARENESS OF MEMORY LOSS AFTER SEVERE CLOSED-HEAD INJURY

This study investigated unawareness of memory loss in 48 severe closed -head injury patients. Awareness was measured as the correlation of pa tients' memory test scores with their self-ratings on the Everyday Mem ory Questionnaire (EMQ). Patients who endorsed atypical memory failure s on the EMQ were classified as invalid responders. Invalid responders had poorer memory test performances and a higher rate of focal left h emispheric lesions, but did not report greater emotional symptoms. Cor relations between memory test scores and memory self-ratings were weak er among invalid responders or those classified as depressed, and stro nger among valid responders, especially those classified as non-depres sed. The results indicate that the validity of memory self-reports is influenced by both neurogenic and psychogenic factors, and suggest tha t invalid responding is an important problem with self-reports by brai n-injured patients.