A-103 Examining Self-Awareness in Acute Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury Populations

Objective Following acquired brain injury (ABI), self-awareness of deficits is frequently diminished. A review of the literature suggests most investigations of self-awareness following ABI have been in traumatic brain injury (TBI) populations, with emerging research in those with stroke (e.g., Al Banna et al., 2016). Therefore, this study examined self-awareness across diagnoses, neuroanatomical correlates, and demographics. Method Participants included 82 patients (TBI n = 59 and stroke n = 23) from an inpatient ABI unit. Patients, neuropsychologists, and family members completed the Awareness Questionnaire (AQ). The difference between patient-clinician or patient-family total score was examined, with scores >20 suggestive of impaired self-awareness. Results Participants with left-hemisphere (LH) injury endorsed higher functioning (Patient Total) compared to those with right or bilateral injury, p 0.05. However, there was greater difference scores between those with TBI compared to stroke on patient-clinician total cognitive scores t(80) = 2.125, p = 0.037 and patient-family behavioral/affective total scores t(15.86) = 4.045, p < 0.001 such that those with TBI’s were more aware of their deficits. Regarding demographics, level of education predicted level of patient awareness, but no demographic factors predicted the overall difference score. Conclusions Individuals with LH injury may be more prone to reduced awareness than expected. Additionally, specific domains of functioning may be more useful in examining awareness deficits across diagnostic groups than overall scores.