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Who
is at risk?
How
does the cycle start?
Effects
on the body
Impact
of alcohol on recovery
Intervention
Programs
Abstracts |
Tate, P.S., Freed, D.M.,
Bombardier, C.H., Harter, S.L., & Brinkman S. (1999). Traumatic
brain injury: Influence of blood alcohol level on post-acute cognitive
function. Brain Injury, 13,767-784.
Type of
Study
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Research
Study |
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Subjects
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- 143 subjects
between the ages of 16-65
- ratio of
male to female patients was 2.19 :1
- 76.1% European
American, 13.4% Mexican American, 7.5% African American,
3% Native American
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Diagnosis
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Closed head
injury |
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Purpose
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Examine whether
acute pre-injury alcohol intoxication or premorbid history
of alcohol abuse impacts cognitive functioning during the
post-acute stage of recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI). |
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Methods
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Neuropsychological
test files and medical charts and were researched to compile
information on: recent history of alcohol abuse, measures
of TBI severity, etiology of injury, neuropsychological
test data, BAL (blood alcohol level) , and the amount
of time between injury and neuropsychological evaluation.
Demographic information including age, ethnicity, years of
education , and gender was also collected. |
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Results
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- Higher
BAL correlated with poorer performance on many neuropsychological
measures during the post -acute stage of recovery.
- In a sample
of adults with mild to severe closed head injury , higher
BAL correlated with poorer delayed recall for prose material
(WMS-R Logical Memory 2), greater decrement of verbal
memory between test trials (WMS-R Logical Memory Residual),
and poor performance on a measure of planning, organization,
and visuospatial ability (WAIS-R Block Design).
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Treatment Implications
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Patients
who are intoxicated at the time of TBI and are referred
for cognitive rehabilitation following TBI should
be evaluated for history of alcohol abuse by professionals.
Therapy should
target memory, spatial functioning, and conceptual flexibility.
Timely assessment
and intervention in therapy setting may reduce the amount
of alcohol abuse that typically occurs following TBI.
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