Self-focused processing after severe traumatic brain injury: Relationship to neurocognitive functioning and mood symptoms

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of neurocognitive functioning on the self-focused processing styles of rumination and reflection, and the relationship to mood symptoms after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: A cross-sectional design with a between-group component comparing self-focused processing styles and mood symptoms of adults with TBI and age- and gender-matched controls. Method: Fifty-two participants with severe TBI (75% male, M age = 36.56, SD = 12.39) completed cognitive tests of attention, memory, executive functioning and the Awareness Questionnaire, Reflection and Rumination Questionnaire (RRQ), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS – 21). Fifty age- and gender-matched controls completed the RRQ and DASS-21. Results: TBI participants reported significantly greater mood symptoms than controls (p