Does a test of functional memory during the post-acute period predict long-term outcome of traumatic brain injury?

Neuropsychological measures have been criticized as having questionable eco logical validity. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) was examined to determine if it is predictive of memory many years following moderate t o severe traumatic brain injury. Self- and informant reports of memory impa irment were collected from 72 former patients of a rehabilitation hospital, an average of 10 years postinjury. Correlation analyses revealed that base line RBMT was predictive of long-term performance on an objectively measure d task of prospective memory (r(68) = .26, p <.05), immediate prose recall (r(68) = .26, p < .05) and delayed prose recall (r(68) = .45, p < .01). Hie rarchical regression revealed that baseline RBMT was predictive of long-ter m performance on objective measures of memory (F(5, 60) = 3.72, p < .01) an d informant reports of memory impairment (F(3, 61)= 3.74, p < .05) after co ntrolling for subject education and current age. (C) 2000 Academic Press.