An Analysis of the Use of Subjective Organization on the Selective Reminding Test in a Sample of Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: The current study evaluated the use of subjective organization (SO), an indicator of organized recall, on the Selective Reminding Test (SRT) in a TBI group at 3 and 6 months post injury as well as the relationship between SO and SRT performance. The study also examined changes in SO from 3 to 6 months post injury in a longitudinal subsample.
Participants and Methods: Patients with complicated mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were administered the Selective Reminding Test (SRT) at three (N = 121) and six months (N= 87) post injury. Hierarchical regression models were conducted to evaluate predictors of two SO measures at both time points. Repeated measures ANCOVA was used to evaluate changes in SO within a subsample of patients (N = 75) who completed the SRT at both time points to control for injury severity, age and gender. Results: Best Day 1 GCS and age were consistent predictors of SO at three and six months post injury. No significant changes in SO were observed in a subsample of patients who completed the SRT at both three and six months post injury. SO was positively associated with SRT measures of long term storage and retrieval and negatively associated with short term storage and retrieval at both time points. Conclusions: Injury severity and age are predictors of SO in the first six months after TBI. There are no significant increases in SO in the first six months after TBI. SO is positively related to SRT performance.