Validation of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale: A brief measure to identify acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury

• Published in: Brain injury 2011-11, Vol.25 (12), p.1198-1205
• Main Authors: Meares, Susanne, Shores, E. Arthur, Taylor, Alan J., Lammél, Andrea, Batchelor, Jennifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amnesia; Brain Injuries - complications; Brain Injuries - psychology; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Educational Status; Female; Glasgow Coma Scale; Humans; Learning; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; mild traumatic brain injury; Neuropsychological Tests; post-traumatic amnesia; PTA; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Verbal Behavior; Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2011.608213

Objective: To validate the use of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale (A-WPTAS) in the assessment of acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods: Data previously collected from 82 mTBI and 88 control participants using the Revised Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale (R-WPTAS) was converted to A-WPTAS scores and pass/fail classifications were calculated for both scales. Results: The proportion of failures on the R-WPTAS and the A-WPTAS did not differ and a similar number of mTBIs were classified on each. For mTBIs the relationship between the independent memory test and a pass/fail classification was the same for both scales. Bivariate logistic regressions revealed that mTBIs, relative to controls, were around 8 times more likely to fail the assessment (R-WPTAS: 95% CI: 3.70-18.87; A-WPTAS: 95% CI: 3.70-20.14). As verbal learning improved the likelihood of failure was reduced. Greater education was associated with a decreased likelihood of failure. The relationship between education and a fail performance was not sustained when education was adjusted for the effect of age, prior mTBI, blood alcohol level, injury status, verbal learning, and morphine administration. Conclusions: The A-WPTAS is a valid measure. The A-WPTAS may reduce the risk of failing to classify patients with mTBI by identifying and documenting acute cognitive impairment.