A.nlcl..édenl'i
el
attentIOn
IV
Abstract
The aim
of
the present study is to determine
if
symptoms arising from mild traumatic
brain injury (MTBI) are more linked to the presence
of
premorbid risk factors
(psychological, neurological or academic) or to the actual injury.
We
examined the
impact
of
premorbid risk factors on the performance
of
MTBI subjects on objective
attention tests (Stroop Color-Word Test and Brown-Peterson Test) by conducting a
neuropsychological assessment
of
146 subjects, aged
16
to
64
years. Three groups were
then formed: Group 1 (n=30) was the comparison group; Group 2 (n=25) was composed
ofMTBI subjects without premorbid risk factors; Group 3 (n=91) was made
up
ofMTBI
subjects with premorbid risk factors. The groups were matched for sex, age, education
and results on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Objective results showed a significant difference
between the comparison group and the two MTBI groups, thus giving sorne weight to the
argument that the origins
of
early post-MTBI symptoms are neurological. No significant
differences were revealed, however, with regard to the effect
of
premorbid risk factors on
the results obtained on objective attention tests. Thereby, we conclude that those
premorbid risk factors have no influence on attention.
Keywords: Attention, premorbid risk fàctors, Brown-Peterson Test, Stroop
Color-Word Test, mild traumatic brain injury, MTBI.