The present investigation compared the North American Adult Reading Test (NAART), Wide Range Achievement Test-3 (WRAT-3) Reading subtest, Barona, and Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate Best (OPIE) premorbid intelligence estimates in 64 chronic pain patients across three intelligence ranges. Results for the entire sample revealed that the NAART, Barona, and OPIE Best equations overestimated Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Full Scale IQ (WAIS-R FSIQ), while the WRAT-3 underestimated FSIQ. When the sample was divided into three intelligence ranges, the OPIE more accurately classified individuals with above average intelligence, while the WRAT-3 more accurately classified individuals with below average intelligence. Three methods (NAART, OPIE, and WRAT-3) provided relatively equivalent classifications of individuals in the average intelligence range. The Barona method tended to systematically under- and overestimate FSIQ across the intelligence continuum. These results suggest the potential utility of using different estimation methods for individuals in different IQ ranges, and speak to the need for development of estimation methods that incorporate current reading ability with best performance and demographic variables.

The present investigation compared the North American Adult Reading Test (NAART), Wide Range Achievement Test-3 (WRAT-3) Reading subtest, Barona, and Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate Best (OPIE) premorbid intelligence estimates in 64 chronic pain patients across three intelligence ranges. Results for the entire sample revealed that the NAART, Barona, and OPIE Best equations overestimated Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Full Scale IQ (WAIS-R FSIQ), while the WRAT-3 underestimated FSIQ. When the sample was divided into three intelligence ranges, the OPIE more accurately classified individuals with above average intelligence, while the WRAT-3 more accurately classified individuals with below average intelligence. Three methods (NAART, OPIE, and WRAT-3) provided relatively equivalent classifications of individuals in the average intelligence range. The Barona method tended to systematically under- and overestimate FSIQ across the intelligence continuum. These results suggest the potential utility of using different estimation methods for individuals in different IQ ranges, and speak to the need for development of estimation methods that incorporate current reading ability with best performance and demographic variables.

Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently results in significant handicap, empirical investigations of pharmacological treatment of the neurobehavioral sequelae of TBI are rare. This review presents evidence that supports hypotheses of a cholinergic mechanism underlying some neurobehavioral sequelae of TBI, as well as a critical review of the preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy of cholinergic agents in TBI. Despite numerous methodological limitations, preliminary evidence exists for the efficacy of cholinergic agents in ameliorating attention and memory deficits following TBI. The authors highlight the need for large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that include a broad range of cognitive and behavioral outcome measures.

Patients with early onset seizure disorder tend to have less cognitive decline following surgical resection than patients with late onset seizure disorder. Differential opportunity for presurgical cerebral functional reorganization has been proposed to account for this "age of onset" effect. However, the relationships between age of seizure onset, functional organization, and neuropsychological outcome remain incompletely understood. To shed additional light on these issues, we investigated 66 patients with anterior temporal lobectomies (37 left; 29 right), all of whom completed comprehensive neuropsychological assessment prior to and following surgical resection. The sample was divided into two groups: 34 patients with early onset (EO) epilepsy and 32 patients with late onset (LO) epilepsy. We found the typical age of onset effect: post-surgically, EO patients demonstrated relatively better outcome in multiple neuropsychological domains, especially verbal memory, compared to LO patients. Based on presurgical Wada testing, 23 patients were classified as having traditional cerebral functional organization (TFO) and 35 were classified as having nontraditional cerebral functional organization (NTFO). The NTFO group had an earlier age of seizure onset than the TFO group, and NTFO was more frequent in EO patients (70%) than LO patients (50%). NTFO patients demonstrated relatively better post-surgical outcome in several neuropsychological domains, compared to TFO patients. Our findings are consistent with the notion that functional reorganization may be an explanatory factor for the better neuropsychological outcome of EO epilepsy patients following anterior temporal lobectomy.

Although several prior case studies have described outcome following acute onset of HSVE, this case presents a unique challenge for rehabilitation in several respects. First, EB's pre-morbid history is complicated; in contrast with prior HSVE case studies that have typically involved individuals with a relatively high level of pre-morbid functioning, EB presents with limited educational attainment and a prior history of several incarcerations for violent offenses. Post-injury, his presentation includes significant verbal aggression, threats of harm toward others, physical posturing and occasional physical aggression toward his caretakers. Third, EB presents with a fixed delusion that others are constantly taking advantage of him. These features are present in the context of global amnesia and relatively intact cognitive functioning in other domains. Following a brief review of prior HSVE case studies, this study reviews the outcomes of various pharmacological, cognitive, behavioural and integrative interventions designed for management of EB's aggression and agitation.