Cognitive and behavioral sequelae of closed head injury in older adults according to their significant others

This study examined the neurobehavioral effects Of closed head injury (CHI) in older adults according to their significant of others. Informants of 17 mild and moderate CHI patients greater than or equal to 50 years old when injured completed the Geriatric Evaluation of Relative's Rating Instrument, a questionnaire inquiring about the patient's cognition, affect, interpers onal relations, and daily activities. The significant others provided retro spective ratings of preinjury functioning and completed the same instrument an average of 4 and 13 months post-injury. The significant others of 10 co mmunity-residing, normal control subjects completed the questionnaire at co mparable intervals between each rating. Compared with their preinjury funct ioning, and unlike the control subjects, patients showed declines in cognit ion and moon. The possible impact of these changes, including their effect on subjective burden in caregivers, is discussed.