The 2014-2018 Administration for Community Living (ACL) Traumatic Brain Injury Implementation Grant provided the opportunity for research and subsequent publication of two peer-reviewed articles:
Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injury in Justice-Involved Women — Wall, K. C., Gorgens, K., Dettmer, J., Davis, T. M., & Gafford, J. (2018).
The present study investigated gender differences in the prevalence and incidence of violence-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) among justice-involved individuals, as well as potential associations between violence-related TBI and select biopsychosocial variables among women in the sample. Data from 409 justice-involved individuals were analyzed, and men and women were compared for rate of violence-related TBI. Women were grouped by violence-related TBI history and compared on eight biopsychosocial variables. Gender was significantly associated with multiple TBIs and multiple violence-related TBIs. History of violence-related TBI in women was associated with physical health problems and incarceration history. This research revealed a high rate of violence-related multiple TBIs among justice-involved women. Violence-related TBIs were associated with more prevalent physical illness and increased incarceration times. Identification of justice-involved women with these injuries may help clinicians better tailor services to improve inmate outcomes and reduce cost burdens to justice systems.
Sensitivity and Specificity of the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method to Neuropsychological Impairment — Glover, N., Gorgens, K., Meyer, L., Dettmer, J. & Lehto, M. (2018).
Offenders in justice system settings have high rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in comparison with the general population. Consequently, justice systems are using screening tools to identify and manage these individuals. Currently, that includes screening for TBI history and gross cognitive impairment. The present study attempted to determine whether the modified Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method (OSU TBI-ID) was predictive of ongoing cognitive impairment as measured by the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) Core Battery. If so, the OSU TBI-ID could be used as a stand-alone measure of TBI history and impairment. This study had 223 participants (male = 160, female = 62). Sensitivity and specificity results revealed poor (.65) to very poor (.36) estimates for all OSU TBI-ID indices across all ANAM subtests. This study suggests that screening for lifetime history of TBI does not identify cognitive impairment. Implications for screening policy and future research are discussed.
These articles are searchable on the Internet. Copies are also available upon request through MINDSOURCE, cdhs_mindsource@state.co.us, or by contacting Dr. Kim Gorgens at kimberly.gorgens@du.edu.