Cerebral Metabolic and Neuropsychological Outcomes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adolescents and adults can result in cognitive, emotional, behavioral and neurological deficits that can persist more than a year after an injury. The current preliminary study used 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to determine if prolonged cerebral metabolic and cognitive alterations occur in individuals with persistent neurocognitive deficits following a mild TBI (mTBI). The current study evaluated the potential interactions between cerebral metabolism and neuropsychological performance, coping style, mood, and perceived quality of life in mTBI subjects with chronic post-concussive symptoms. The mTBI subjects performed worse than controls on neuropsychological measures, endorsed poorer mood and reported significantly poorer perceived quality of life than healthy controls. Additionally, cerebral metabolic differences were found between groups as well as significant interactions between neuropsychological performance and cerebral metabolism. The current findings may potentially guide future research to more eagerly strive to understand possible ways to alter cerebral metabolism, possibly through medication, diet, or other behavioural changes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Evans, Julia L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ropacki, Susan A.
• Bartnik-Olson, Brenda
• Haerich, Paul
• Vermeersch, David A.

• Clinical Psychology
• Brain injuries; Trauma; Brain - metabolism;
• Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cerebral metabolism
• Neuropsychological performance

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/120

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1119