A-112 Validity of In-Person Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury Inpatients Using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone

Abstract

Abstract Objective Examine the correlation of the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT) with established neuropsychological tests in an inpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) population. Method Participants were 55 patients aged 18–76 years (M age = 37 years; 69% male) receiving inpatient rehabilitation for new-onset TBI at a level I trauma center, acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital. The BTACT is a brief cognitive test battery consisting of the following subtests: Word List Immediate and Delayed Recall (episodic verbal memory), Digits Backward (working memory), Number Series (inductive reasoning), Animal Fluency (verbal fluency), and Backward Counting (processing speed). With the intention of mirroring cognitive functions measured by the BTACT, the neuropsychological battery was comprised of the California Verbal Learning Test-2 (CVLT-2), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Digit Span, Trail Making Test (TMT), semantic fluency, phonemic fluency, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results The BTACT was related to established neuropsychological tests across composite scores of overall cognition (r = .64, p < .001), episodic verbal memory (r = .66, p < .001), and executive function (r = .56, p < .001). For BTACT subtests, Word List Immediate Recall and Word List Delayed Recall were correlated with CVLT-2 learning trials total (r = .57, p < .01) and long delay free recall (r = .60, p < .001), respectively. BTACT Digits Backward correlated with WAIS-IV Digit Span (r = .51, p < .01). BTACT Animal Fluency was related to semantic fluency (r = .65, p < .01), phonemic fluency (r = .60, p < .01), and TMT-B (r = .39, p < .01). Conclusion BTACT composite scores of overall cognition, verbal memory, and executive function are valid measures in a TBI inpatient population.