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Primary objective : To investigate the internal consistency, long-term stability and validity of the Life Satisfaction Index-A (LSI-A) in a sample of survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research design : Cohort study. Methods and procedures : LSI-A was administered to survivors of TBI at 12, 24, 48 and 60 months post-injury during telephone interviews. Participants rated their quality of life, independence and participation in activities as well as health status at 24 months. Internal consistency was evaluated with Coefficient α. Pearson's r was used to investigate score stability. Test validity was explored with Pearson's r and Analysis of Covariance with age and sex as covariates. Experimental interventions : None. Main outcomes and results : Coefficient α s ranged from 0.85-0.92. Test-re-test coefficients ranged from 0.42-0.77. The LSI-A was positively correlated with self-reported quality of life, independence, activity level and health status. Conclusions : The LSI-A is a reliable and valid measure of the construct of life satisfaction among survivors of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective : Determine (1) the sensitivity of world-wide-web searches for deaths among persons with traumatic brain injuries and (2) factors associated with the likelihood of identifying deceased persons with traumatic brain injuries. Research design : Stratified case series. Methods and procedures : Sequential submission of 371 deceased persons with traumatic brain injuries to a world-wide-web site to determine inclusion in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Main outcomes and results : Almost 87% of deceased persons ages 50+ were found, 69.8% of persons ages 30-49 and 34.6% of persons younger than age 30. Other factors influencing the likelihood of finding deceased persons in the SSDI were male gender, white race, being married, knowing the Social Security number and survival of 1+ years post-injury. Conclusions : The SSDI provides useful information for mortality studies among persons with traumatic brain injuries, but does a poor job of identifying deaths among younger persons. Sole reliance on the SSDI may result in under-ascertainment of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To examine the predictive associations of family satisfaction, functional impairment, pain, and depression on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) among persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through structural equation modelling (SEM). Research design: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study of adjustment following TBI. Direct and indirect effects of predictor variables on HRQoL were analyzed through SEM. Methods and procedures: The sample included 131 participants with TBI (89 men, 42 women) who had been discharged from an acute care hospital. The Sickness Impact Profile was administered to measure HRQoL at or beyond 24 months post-discharge. Predictor variable measures included the Functional Independence Measure, Family Satisfaction Scale and single items assessing the presence of pain and depression. Main outcomes and results: SEM revealed direct effects of functional impairment ( p < 0.001), family satisfaction ( p < 0.01), depression ( p < 0.05) and pain ( p < 0.01) on HRQoL. Indirect effects from functional impairment ( p < 0.05) and pain ( p < 0.05) to HRQoL through depression were also present. Conclusions: The presence of pain and depression, greater functional impairment and lower family satisfaction were predictively associated with lower HRQoL. Depression further mediated the effects of pain and functional impairment on HRQoL. The present study advances understanding of the ways in which pain, depression and functional impairment predict HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the relationship between depression and life satisfaction among survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) over a 3-year period after injury. Hypothesis that survivors of TBI with depression would have decreased life satisfaction; Interview of TBI survivors.