Aspects of Cognitive Impairment Associated with Agitated Behaviour during Post-traumatic Amnesia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Courtney J. Spiteri ◽  
Jennie L. Ponsford ◽  
Caroline M. Roberts ◽  
Adam McKay
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Auditory Comprehension ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Rehabilitation Hospital ◽  
Traumatic Amnesia ◽  
Recall Memory ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Mixed Modelling

Abstract Objectives: Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is a transient period of recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI) characterised by disorientation, amnesia, and cognitive disturbance. Agitation is common during PTA and presents as a barrier to patient outcome. A relationship between cognitive impairment and agitation has been observed. This prospective study aimed to examine the different aspects of cognition associated with agitation. Methods: The sample comprised 82 participants (75.61% male) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in PTA. All patients had sustained moderate to extremely severe brain injury as assessed using the Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale (WPTAS) (mean duration = 42.30 days, SD = 35.10). Participants were assessed daily using the Agitated Behaviour Scale and WPTAS as part of routine clinical practice during PTA. The Confusion Assessment Protocol was administered two to three times per week until passed criterion was achieved (mean number assessments = 3.13, SD = 3.76). Multilevel mixed modelling was used to investigate the association between aspects of cognition and agitation using performance on items of mental control, orientation, memory free recall, memory recognition, vigilance, and auditory comprehension. Results: Findings showed that improvement in orientation was significantly associated with lower agitation levels. A nonsignificant trend was observed between improved recognition memory and lower agitation. Conclusions: Current findings suggest that the presence of disorientation in PTA may interfere with a patient’s ability to understand and engage with the environment, which in turn results in agitated behaviours. Interventions aimed at maximizing orientation may serve to minimize agitation during PTA.

scholarly journals A Review on Post-Traumatic Aggression

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Bahare Dadgari
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Behavioral Dysfunction ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Recovery Of Consciousness

Traumatic brain injury is the first cause of death and disability in children and young adults in worldwide. During the acute phase of recovery from moderate to severe brain injury, a period of post-traumatic confusion state (PTCS) will arise that is a combination of cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Seven key symptoms of PTCS are identified and measured by Confusion Assessment Protocol (CAP)  Agitation can be part of PTCS in the acute phase or, part of the recovery of consciousness in chronic phase. There are different hypothesis and classifications of acute and chronic post-traumatic aggressive syndromes. While post-traumatic aggression is common, its mechanism, assessment tool, outcome and treatment plans are not well-defined. Understanding the different aspects of post-traumatic aggression; mechanism, differential diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed in this article.

scholarly journals Introduction of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale and Impact on Length of Stay

2017 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Watson ◽  
E. A. Clous ◽  
M. Jaeger ◽  
S. K. D’Amours
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Traumatic Amnesia ◽  
Post Traumatic

Background and Aims: Mild traumatic brain injury is a common presentation to Emergency Departments. Early identification of patients with cognitive deficits and provision of discharge advice are important. The Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale provides an early and efficient assessment of post-traumatic amnesia for patients with mild traumatic brain injuries, compared with the previously used assessment, the Modified Oxford Post-traumatic Scale. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed 270 patients with mild traumatic brain injury assessed for post-traumatic amnesia over a 2-year period between February 2011 and February 2013. It identified those assessed with Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale versus Modified Oxford Post-traumatic Scale, the outcomes of these post-traumatic amnesia assessments, the hospital length of stay for patients, and their readmission rates. Results: The Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale was used in 91% of patient cases (and the Modified Oxford Post-traumatic Scale in 7%), and of those assessed with the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale, 94% cleared post-traumatic amnesia testing within 4 h. Of those assessed with the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale, 56% had a shorter length of stay than had they been assessed with the Modified Oxford Post-traumatic Scale, resulting in 295 bed-days saved. Verbal and written discharge advice was provided to those assessed for post-traumatic amnesia to assist their recovery. In all, 1% of patients were readmitted for monitoring of mild post-concussion symptoms. Conclusion: The Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale provides an effective and timely assessment of post-traumatic amnesia for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with mild traumatic brain injury compared with the previously used assessment tool. It helps identify patients with cognitive impairment and the need for admission and further investigation, resulting in appropriate access to care. It also results in a decreased length of stay and decreased hospital admissions, with subsequent cost savings to the hospital.

scholarly journals Overview of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients at a Tertiary Trauma Centre

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine de Guise ◽  
Mitra Feyz ◽  
Joanne LeBlanc ◽  
Sylvain-Luc Richard ◽  
Julie Lamoureux
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Functional Independence Measure ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Traumatic Amnesia ◽  
Post Traumatic

ABSTRACT:Objective:The goal of this study was to provide a general descriptive and cognitive portrait of a population with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the time of their acute care stay.Material and methods:Three hundred and forty-eight TBI patients were assessed. The following data were collected for each patient: age, level of education, duration of post-traumatic amnesia, Galveston Orientation Amnesia Test score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, results of cerebral imaging, Neurobehavioral Rating Scale score, the Functional Independence Measure cognitive score and the Glasgow Outcome Scale score.Results:The clinical profile of the population revealed a mean age of 40.2 (±18.7) and a mean of 11.5 (±3.6) years of education. Most patients presented with frontal (57.6%) and temporal (40%) lesions. Sixty-two percent had post-traumatic amnesia of less than 24 hours. Seventy percent presented with mild TBI, 14% with moderate and 15% with severe TBI. The cognitive deficits most frequently observed on the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale were in the areas of attention, memory and mental flexibility as well as slowness and mental fatigability. Most patients had good cognitive outcome on the Functional Independence Measure and scores of 2 and 3 were frequent on the GOS. Forty-five percent of the patients returned home after discharge, 51.7% were referred to in or out patient rehabilitation and 3.2% were transferred to long-term care facilities.Conclusion:Because of the specialized mandate of acute care institutions, the information provided here concerning characteristics of our TBI population is essential for more efficient decision-making and planning/programming with regards to care and service delivery.

Is Post Traumatic Amnesia any Different from Delirium?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-85
Author(s):  
Samit Roy
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Traumatic Amnesia ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Narrative Account

This invited commentary discusses David W. Smith’s narrative account of his experiences during recovery from his traumatic brain injury (Smith, 2012). The author discusses the available literature around recovery from an ‘injured cognition state’ with particular reference to post traumatic amnesia, delirium, and other behavioral changes associated with recovery from traumatic brain injury.

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