Ps. Klonoff et Dg. Lamb, MILD HEAD-INJURY, SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TEST-SCORES, AND PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY, Clinical neuropsychologist, 12(1), 1998, pp. 31-42
Typically there is a positive correlation between severity of known br
ain injury and level of performance on neuropsychological tests, parti
cularly tests of memory and speed of information processing. This pape
r will discuss in detail nine individuals who had a history of mild he
ad injury, but who presented with significant neuropsychological defic
its on testing. In each case, evidence of significant psychiatric disa
bility and/or malingering was present and seemed to better explain the
poor neuropsychological test findings than did the trauma. All nine p
atients showed evidence of significant premorbid stressors, an ''atypi
cal'' response style on neuropsychological tests, and vague and unusua
l somatic complaints. The importance of interpreting test findings wit
hin the context of an adequate history via record review and a thoroug
h clinical interview is stressed.