Objectives: Evaluate the psychometric properties of indices of a lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Participants: Convenience samples recruited from 2 treatment programs for persons with substance use disorders: N = 119 (study 1) and N = 103 (study 2)
Design: Test interrater reliability (study 1) and predictive validity (Study 2).
Measures: Summary indices of the number, severity, timing, and effects of lifetime TBIs calculated from data elicited via a structured interview.
Results: Interrater reliability was high. Factor analysis showed indices could be characterized by severity weighted counts of the number of injuries, both lifetime and in childhood, number of symptoms persisting, worst injury, time since last TBI with loss of consciousness, and age at first TBI with loss of consciousness. Age at injury and symptoms persisting contributed independently to the prediction of common cognitive and behavioral consequences of TBI.
Conclusion: These results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of summary indices of lifetime history of TBI elicited via a structured interview.