Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Assessment of

An uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is traumatic brain injury in which there is a brief loss of consciousness, brief posttraumatic amnesia, or an alteration of mental status (e.g., feeling dazed) without evidence of neurological damage. Physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms are common in the days and weeks immediately following the injury, but these resolve naturally within a few months in the vast majority of patients. A relatively small number of patients show continued symptoms, which can be due to a range of other issues besides the mTBI. Psychological evaluation of these patients should [Page 500]include an assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning, as well as effort or motivation. Because these patients are commonly seen in forensic evaluations, where malingering is more likely, specific ...