Executive dysfunction and characterological changes after traumatic brain injury: two sides of the same coin?

Abstract

This study examined the capacity of neuropsychological variables indicative of dysfunction in the regulation of executive abilities (e.g. noncompliance with rules) to reflect changes in character associated with disturbances in regulatory abilities (e.g. impulsivity). A close relative of 30 participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was administered the Current Behaviour Scale (CBS) at admission (rating premorbid character) and six months posttrauma (rating current character). The TBI group was examined neuropsychologically at six months posttrauma, along with 30 nonbrain-damaged (NBD) participants. Significant increases in CBS factors, Loss of Emotional Control and Loss of Motivation, occurred in the TBI group posttrauma. Differences between TBI and NBD groups were found for most executive variables. Those TBI participants with impairments on the neuropsychological Rule Breaking variable showed significant posttrauma increases in Loss of Emotional Control. There was also a trend for individuals with frontal lesions to make rule-breaking and perseverative errors.