1ST IMPRESSIONS COUNT - A CONTROLLED INVESTIGATION OF SOCIAL SKILL FOLLOWING CLOSED-HEAD INJURY

This study examined social skills in 14 closed head injured (CHI) pati ents who were assessed at four months post-injury and compared with 19 orthopaedic control (OC) patients. Social skills deficits were found to be more common in the CHI patients, of whom over half were classifi ed as socially unskilled. CHI patients displayed poorer social skills in the earlier (but not later) part of an extended social interaction, indicating that they make a poor first impression. It is suggested th at poor initial impression formation skills may be one reason why CHI patients fail to establish and maintain friendships. Implications of t hese findings for patient management are discussed. Close others of CH I patients reported higher levels of mood disturbance. Higher levels o f close other hostility were associated with social skills deficits in CHI patients.