Relationships between predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors and executive functioning following mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the sociodemographic and MTBI-related variables associated with executive functioning (EF). Methods Based on the theoretical model of Hou and colleagues, data on predisposing (age, education, premorbid IQ), precipitating (post-traumatic amnesia, loss of consciousness, presence of frontal lesions, post-accident time to evaluation) and perpetuating (anxious and depressive affects and post-concussive symptoms) factors were retrospectively collected from the medical records of 172 patients with MTBI. EF data based on the 3 processes included in Miyake’s prediction model (2000) (updating, cognitive flexibility and inhibition) were collected using respectively the Digit span task of the Weschler – 4th edition, the Trails A and B as well as the initiation time on the Tower of London- Drexel University. Results Updating was significantly associated with education, premorbid IQ, age, anxiety, and depressive affect. Inhibition was associated with education and age. No variable was associated with cognitive flexibility. Conclusions Following a MTBI, clinicians should consider that level of education and pre-morbid IQ may “predispose” patients to higher EF performances. They should also measure level of anxiety and depressive affect knowing that these may “perpetuate” some EF impairments (specifically the updating process).