ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity is classified on a continuum from mild to moderate to severe, with treatment, recovery course, and ultimate outcome varying widely across these groups. Neuropsychological assessment and intervention are frequently requested for patients with TBI at all levels of injury severity and across multiple time points in the treatment and recovery course. This chapter provides a review of neuropsychological issues relevant to moderate and severe TBI. It covers incidence/prevalence and risk factors, classification of TBI severity, neuroanatomical effects of TBI, course of recovery, neuropsychological and neurobehavioral effects of TBI, neuropsychological assessment, and outcome following moderate and severe TBI. The chapter illustrates that mortality and morbidity due to TBI are major public health problems in the United States. Finally, future research is needed to determine which specific rehabilitation and neuropsychological interventions are most beneficial in helping patients with moderate to severe TBI reach their optimal recovery potential.
