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Research Article  |   September 2009
Executive Functioning, Awareness, and Participation in Daily Life After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study
Asnat Bar-Haim Erez; Ettie Rothschild; Noomi Katz; Maya Tuchner; Adina Hartman-Maeir
Author Affiliations
  • Asnat Bar-Haim Erez, PhD, OT, is Faculty Member, Occupational Therapy Department, School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah and Hebrew University, Mount Scopus, PO 24026, Jerusalem 91240 Israel; aaerez@zahav.net.il
  • Ettie Rothschild, MSc, OT, is Clinician, Rehabilitation Department, Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
  • Noomi Katz, PhD, OTR, is Director, Research Institute for Health and Medical Professions, Ono Academic College, Israel, and Professor Emeritus, School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Maya Tuchner, MSc, OT, is Clinician, Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah and Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Adina Hartman-Maeir, PhD, OT, is Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah and Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Article Information
Neurologic Conditions / Traumatic Brain Injury / Descriptive and Exploratory Studies
Research Article   |   September 2009
Executive Functioning, Awareness, and Participation in Daily Life After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, September/October 2009, Vol. 63, 634-640. doi:10.5014/ajot.63.5.634
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, September/October 2009, Vol. 63, 634-640. doi:10.5014/ajot.63.5.634
Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We investigated the relationship of executive functioning and self-awareness to participation in daily life of people after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) referred to occupational therapy in the postacute phase.

METHOD. Thirteen participants who sustained mTBI (average time since injury = 4.7 months, mean age = 43.4 years) were evaluated with the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, the Dysexecutive Questionnaire, the Self-Awareness of Deficits Interview, and the Participation Index (PI) of the Mayo–Portland Adaptability Inventory.

RESULTS. Analysis revealed high frequencies of deficits in executive functions such as planning and shifting. However, self-awareness of the executive deficits was intact. A significant percentage (62%–85%) of participants experienced restrictions in everyday life activities, and PI scores were significantly correlated with measures of executive functioning.

CONCLUSIONS. After mTBI, people may be at significant risk for persistent executive deficits and restrictions in participation that warrant occupational therapy intervention.