Psychology Test Scores Associated with Late Outcome in Head Injury

Neuropsychological test scores obtained at an average of 2.4 years postonset from 148 head-injured individuals were used as predictors in a retrospective comparison of test results and outcome. The latter was measured by Social Status Outcome (SSO) survey at an average of 6.2 years postonset, 3.8 years after testing. Pearson correlations yielded associations of varying significance among tests. The SSO total score was correlated at p < .001 with the Wechsler Memory Scale, Motor Free Visual Perceptual Test, Quick Test, and Raven Matrices; at p < .01 with the Stroop Color Names, WAIS FSIQ, WAIS PIQ, Trailmaking A and B, and Bender Gestalt; and at p < .05 with the Stroop Color Recognition, WAIS VIQ, and Draw A Person. Only the Wisconsin Card Son and Stroop Interference, both with a low number of patients, failed to reach significance. In general, modest predictive utility of tests was demonstrated with regard to late outcome.