Factors moderating neuropsychological outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: A meta-analysis
Abstract
There continues to be debate about the long-term neuropsychological impact of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). A meta-analysis of the relevant literature was conducted to determine the impact of MTBI across nine cognitive domains. The analysis was based on 39 studies involving 1463 cases of MTBI and 1191 control cases. The overall effect of MTBI on neuropsychological functioning was moderate ( d = .54). However, findings were moderated by cognitive domain, time since injury, patient characteristics, and sampling methods. Acute effects (less than 3 months postinjury) of MTBI were greatest for delayed memory and fluency ( d = 1.03 and .89, respectively). In unselected or prospective samples, the overall analysis revealed no residual neuropsychological impairment by 3 months postinjury ( d = .04). In contrast, clinic-based samples and samples including participants in litigation were associated with greater cognitive sequelae of MTBI ( d = .74 and .78, respectively at 3 months or greater). Indeed, litigation was associated with stable or worsening of cognitive functioning over time. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed. ( JINS , 2005, 11 , 215–227.)
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Objective, late cognitive deficits after mTBI have been elusive to document at the group level, with multiple meta-analytic reviews concluding insufficient evidence for deleterious effects of mTBI on objective cognitive assessment beyond the first few months post-injury.
“In general, objective, late cognitive deficits after mTBI have been elusive to document at the group level, with multiple, meta-analytic reviews concluding insufficient evidence for deleterious effects of mTBI on objective cognitive assessment beyond the first few months post-injury”
From Can mild traumatic brain injury alter cognition chronically? A LIMBIC-CENC multicenter study. (2023) · cites this paper as Belanger et al., 2005
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese findings align with prior studies and provide some of the strongest evidence to date that in unselected mTBI cases, lower cognitive performance does not chronically persist relative to controls.
“These findings align with prior studies and provide some of the strongest evidence to date that in unselected mTBI cases, lower cognitive performance does not chronically persist relative to controls (Belanger et al., 2005; Binder et al., 1997; Frencham et al., 2005; Karr et al., 2014; Rohling et al., 2011; Schretlen & Shapiro, 2003).”
From Can mild traumatic brain injury alter cognition chronically? A LIMBIC-CENC multicenter study. (2023) · cites this paper as Belanger et al., 2005
The supplied copy contains an abstract stating that unselected or prospective samples showed no residual neuropsychological impairment by three months, but no corresponding passage from the paper’s body was available. Searches for unselected samples and persistent deficits returned only the abstract and references; under the specified evidence rule, the abstract cannot establish the verdict. (LLM, conf=0.72)
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- Authors
- BELANGER, H. G., CURTISS, G., DEMERY, J. A., LEBOWITZ, B. K., & VANDERPLOEG, R. D.
- Affiliations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation (US)
- University of South Florida (US)
- University of Florida Health (US)
- James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (US)
- Venue
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 215-227
- ISSN
- 1355-6177 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7661
- OpenAlex
- W2087393332
- Cited by
- 715
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 65 · 2012: 51
- FWCI
- 2.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- mild traumatic brain injury, neuropsychological outcomes, cognitive impairment, delayed memory, verbal fluency, time since injury, litigation
- MeSH terms
- Brain Injuries, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Severity of Illness Index
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