Mortality following Traumatic Brain Injury among Individuals Unable to Follow Commands at the Time of Rehabilitation Admission: A National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study.

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with increased mortality. This study characterizes long-term mortality, life expectancy, causes of death, and risk factors for death among patients admitted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) TBI Model Systems Programs (TBIMS) who lack command following at the time of admission for inpatient TBI rehabilitation. Of the 8084 persons enrolled from 1988 and 2009, 387 from 20 centers met study criteria.

Pre- and post- GPi DBS neuropsychological profiles in a case of X-linked dystonia-Parkinsonism.

We present the pre to post bilateral globus pallidus interna (GPi) deep brain stimulation neuropsychological profiles of a 69-year-old patient with a 12-year history of X-linked dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP). Pre-operative cognitive function was impaired in almost all domains and this impaired performance was not dependent on his medications. Following DBS, changes in neuropsychological functioning were examined using Reliable Change Indices and standardized z-score comparisons.

Third party observation during neuropsychological evaluation: an update on the literature, practical advice for practitioners, and future directions.

A clash between neuropsychology and the law may exist when a demand is made for third party observation during forensic neuropsychological evaluation. Third party observation includes any person or observational process present during a neuropsychological evaluation aside from the psychologist and the examinee, including electronic devices (e.g.

Giving context to post-deployment post-concussive-like symptoms: blast-related potential mild traumatic brain injury and comorbidities.

In the military and Veterans Administration systems, individuals with potential MTBI are presenting with symptoms in excess of what would be expected based on initial injury characteristics and/or at unexpected time periods based on current research findings. This article investigates factors that might account for the discrepancy between current research expectations and some occurrences in clinical practice. The physics of blast waves, as well as animal and human research, relevant to explosions are reviewed.

Advocacy 101: a step beyond complaining. How the individual practitioner can become involved and make a difference.

There are critical issues facing the neuropsychological community, such as inadequate reimbursement for services, a lack of familiarity among public policy makers regarding the science and practice of neuropsychology, and a lack of public policy awareness among professional neuropsychologists. Advocacy for the field is the most effective way to undertake positive change. Currently, a minority of psychological professionals actively engages in an advocacy process, while the majority is not involved, or is involved periodically or passively.

Classification accuracy and predictive ability of the medical symptom validity test's dementia profile and general memory impairment profile.

When assessing symptom validity in patients with dementia, traditional approaches may be inappropriate because neurological factors may cause altered performance. The Medical Symptom Validity Test has a Dementia Profile that explicitly recognizes this fact. We prospectively evaluated classification accuracy of the Dementia Profile for 52 referrals to a memory disorders clinic.

Neuropsychological profile of a Filipino gentleman with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism: a case report of Lubag disease.

X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP or "Lubag") is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder unique to the Island of Panay in the Philippines. Imaging and autopsy studies have suggested involvement of the caudate and putamen in late stages. Because the clinical presentation of patients with XDP resembles that of patients with Parkinson disease or dystonia, it is reasonable to predict the neuropsychological profile might be similar; however, the neuropsychological profile of a XDP patient has not previously been published.