Abstract
Background: Controversy persists regarding the reasons for persistent subjective complaints after mild traumatic head injury (THI). Statement of purpose: To evaluate the influence of injury severity, psychological factors, and financial contingencies on symptomatology after THI. Methods: Subjective complaints about cognitive, emotional, and somatic symptoms, as assessed by a standardized self-report inventory (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2; MMPI-2) were evaluated in 150 patients with THI. Results: Individuals with mild THI demonstrated paradoxically greater symptomatology on the MMPI-2 than patients with moderate-to-severe THI. Furthermore, specific actuarial criteria for possible symptom magnification (Fake Bad Scale) were met about twice as often in patients with mild THI who were seeking financial compensation for alleged acquired dysfunction than in patients with mild THI without such external contingencies. Conclusion: The evaluation of persistent subjective complaints after THI should consider injury severity in concert with psychological and financial/motivational factors. Great caution should be taken in attributing persistent symptomatology after mild THI to cerebral dysfunction.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
