Prediction of vocational status three to four months after treated mild traumatic brain injury

Objectives: To identify variables correlated with vocational functioning 3- 4 months after treated mild traumatic brain injury [MTBI]. Methods: One hundred eighteen adults who had received specialized treatment soon after MTBI were interviewed 3-4 months later, to evaluate if they had returned to full time pre-injury vocational activity. Variables previously shown to be related to functioning after MTBI were used in a stepwise disc riminant function analysis, in an attempt to predict vocational outcome. Results: Seeking or receiving financial compensation at follow-up, and olde r age, were the only two variables retained in the discriminant function an alysis, as useful in predicting which persons had returned to work and whic h had not. Conclusions: The strong correlation between financial compensation issues a nd vocational status in this treated MTBI sample replicates a relationship previously reported numerous times in untreated MTBI samples. The reasons f or this strong correlation have not been extensively investigated and remai n controversial; further research to help explain this robust and reliable correlation is clearly warranted.