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Background and purpose: Subarachnoid haemorrhage SAH accounts for 5-10 of all strokes, strikes at a mean age of 50 years and results in a pattern of deficits similar to that of traumatic brain injury. This study is an extension of a previous study which described outcome at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The purpose of this follow up study was to describe long term functional, cognitive and psychosocial outcome in a cohort of SAH survivors who received inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Subjects were interviewed by telephone. Functional status was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure FIM and cognitive status with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status TICS. Social function was determined via a brief questionnaire. Results: Thirty two out of 80 subjects who received inpatient rehabilitation participated in the study. The 32 did not differ from the original group of 80 on any demographic or clinical criteria. The mean time from onset of SAH to follow up was 28 months. Total FIM scores improved significantly between discharge and follow up p<0.0001 and most subjects functioned at a physically indepen dent level. However, almost 40 scored in the cognitively impaired range on the TICS. Between 40 and 50 required help with common household activities, and none returned to full time work. Functional and cognitive outcome was not related to any demographic or clinical characteristics at SAH onset. Conclusion: The majority of SAH survivors who received inpatient rehabilitation attain physical independence, but many continue to have cognitive impairments which result in social and vocational disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the current study was to determine the efficacy of amantadine in improving cognitive and behavioural performance in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation sample. The design was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Subjects were 10 adult traumatic brain injury patients in an acute brain injury rehabilitation unit. Subjects received a 2-week trail of amantadine or placebo, followed by a 2-week washout, then a 2-week trail of the alternative (placebo or amantadine). Neuropsychological outcome measures included orientation, attention, executive function, memory, orientation, behaviour, and a composite variable. Results of repeated measures ANOVA and regression analysis of slope/change showed a main effect of time, but no significant difference for amantadine versus placebo. In conclusion, although patients generally improved, this initial exploratory study found no differences in rate of cognitive improvement between subjects given amantadine versus those given placebo. However, the small sample size, heterogeneous population, acute time course, and large number of dependent variables limit power and generalizability. Implications are discussed for further research to better answer questions regarding efficacy of amantadine post-TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]