Selective attention deficits and subjective fatigue following traumatic brain injury

Neuropsychology. 2006 May;20(3):383-90. doi: 10.1037/0894-4105.20.3.383.

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective fatigue and selective attention deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forty-six participants with mild-severe TBI and 46 healthy controls completed fatigue scales (Visual Analogue Scale--Fatigue, Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS] and Causes of Fatigue Questionnaire [COF]), and attentional measures including subtests from the Test of Everyday Attention, and the Complex Selective Attention Task (C-SAT). TBI participants reported greater fatigue on the FSS and COF, performed more slowly on attentional measures, and made more errors on the C-SAT. After controlling for anxiety and depression, fatigue was significantly correlated with performance only on the C-SAT. Findings suggest a relationship between subjective fatigue and impairment on tasks requiring higher order attentional processes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / etiology*
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Fatigue / etiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Reaction Time / physiology