Abstract:
The period of motoric agitation/withdrawal, disorientation, attention and memory deficits, mood lability, suspiciousness, and hallucinations that occurs after TBI has been called post-traumatic delirium (PTD) or post-traumatic amnesia (PTA). Recent research has indicated that confusion or attentional disturbance is the defining characteristic of this period rather than memory impairment. Our investigations have confirmed the similarity of this period of recovery to delirium and support the use of the term Post-traumatic Confusional State (PTCS) to describe this period. We have collected data on a substantial number of patients in PTCS. Our investigations have resulted in determination of 7 key symptoms of PTCS and the development of a procedure, the Confusion Assessment Protocol, to assess these symptoms. We continue to analyze data and will publish several additional papers over the next 2 years.