L. J. Miller

Postconcussion Syndrome Occurs in Children.

The consensus of evidence published since 1924 suggests that parents report attention deficits, hyperactivity, or conduct disorder after pediatric head injury rather than postconcussion syndrome. In this study, the symptoms reported by children after mild (n = 38) and moderate-severe (n = 27) head trauma were compared to those reported after orthopedic injury (n = 47) and to adults matched for injury severity and chronicity by using a structured interview based on diagnostic criteria for postconcussion syndrome. Pediatric head trauma caused significantly more subjective symptoms after 6 weeks than orthopedic injury. These symptoms were related to head injury severity and the childs anxiety level. When assessed in a similar manner, children report postconcussion syndrome similar to that seen in adults.

Exploratory factor analysis of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) in adult standardization and clinical samples.

Exploratory factor analyses were conducted separately on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI; The Psychological Corporation, 1999) adult standardization sample (n = 1,145) and a diagnostically heterogeneous adult clinical sample (n = 201). In the latter group, means for age, education, and WASI Full Scale IQ were 59.25 years (SD = 17.52), 12.39 years (SD = 2.88), and 89.91 (SD = 16.00). For each sample, the four WASI subtests were subjected to a principal-axis factor analysis followed by varimax and promax rotations. Two factors were specified to be retained. Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization factors were identified in both analyses. Coefficients of congruence were 0.98 for Factor I and 0.99 for Factor II, suggesting factorial equivalence across the standardization and clinical samples.

Astereopsis Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury

Impaired depth perception (astereopsis) has been observed in a variety of cerebral pathologies affecting the posterior parietal lobe. In the current study of 93 consecutive head trauma admissions, 24% had complete astereopsis and 41% performed more than 2 SDs below the orthopedic control group mean. Degree of impairment was related to Glascow Coma Scale score, length of posttraumatic amnesia, reduced visuospatial and memory abilities, and the presence of intracranial pathology of the parietal lobes. Impairment was also related to trauma severity in patients without any visualized intracranial pathology, presumably due to diffuse axonal shearing. Clinically meaningful impairment was observed in 25% of this group; 10% had complete astereopsis. Stereoacuity screening requires 1 to 2 minutes. Undetected astereopsis may increase risk for subsequent motor vehicle accidents or falls.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition Picture Arrangement Subtest: Impact of Vertical Administration

We compared the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition Picture Arrangement (PA) scores via standard administration (SA) or vertical administration (VA). Fifty-seven college students were assigned to one of two conditions. Thirty SAs had means for age, education, and American College Testing (ACT) of 19.47 (SD = 1.14), 13.60 (SD = 1.16), and 22.27 (SD = 2.65), respectively. Twenty-seven VAs had means for age, education, and ACT of 21.26 years (SD = 2.99), 14.44 years (SD = .93), and 22.63 years (SD = 3.79), respectively. An analysis of covariance revealed nonsignificant results for age and education, Fs < 1, but a significant difference emerged for type of administration, F(1, 53) = 4.42, p < .05. SA (M = 10.33, SD = 2.97) yielded a significantly higher mean PA score than did VA (M = 8.30, SD = 2.84).