Assessing Self-Rated Memory Impairment in Persons with Posttraumatic Headache
Forty-two patients with persistent posttraumatic headache and postconcussion symptomatology following a motor vehicle accident completed the Self-Rating Scale of Memory Functions (SRSM), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and brief memory testing. SRSM scores indicated that patients rated their memory as significantly impaired relative to their preinjury status. SRSM scores were not affected by such factors as age, education, gender, and loss of consciousness. However, significantly depressed patients rated their memory as more impaired on 14 of 18 SRSM items when compared with nondepressed patients. After controlling for depression, SRSM scores correlated significantly with objective performance on several memory tests. The implications of these findings are discussed.