A - 141 Effects of Posttraumatic Growth on Current and Predicted Future Satisfaction with Recovery in Patients with Moderate/Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and their Families.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess effects of posttraumatic growth (PTG) on ratings of current and predicted future functioning in adults with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (mod-sev TBI) and their family members.

METHOD: Fifteen adults with mod-sev TBI (age 34.5; 4.1 yrs post), and a family member for each, rated current, and predicted 2-3-year future, satisfaction with physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery. All participants also completed the Neurobehavioral Functioning Inventory, and patients completed the Motivation for TBI Rehabilitation Questionnaire. PTG was assessed by raters independently judging the content of brief narratives written by the patients. Results of repeated measures within-subjects contrasts and independent samples t-tests are reported at the p < 0.05 level.

RESULTS: Findings for individuals with (vs without) PTG revealed greater agreement of current and future satisfaction by self and family member, including greater satisfaction with depression and aggression. Families rated less concern across areas of functioning, especially regarding aggression, for individuals with (vs without) PTG. Patients with (vs without) PTG rated poor current satisfaction with memory. Overall, patients with (vs without) PTG were less interested in rehabilitative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Results align with published findings regarding PTG reflecting acceptance of personal challenges. Benefits to negative emotions are notable. Reasons for patients' current dissatisfaction with their memory, juxtaposed with satisfaction with their future memory, merits further study but may relate to patients' noticing memory difficulties while being evaluated. Less interest in rehab may relate to patients with PTG believing they were functioning well overall and therefore being less in need of treatment.