Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Objectives：This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety and cognitive function in the patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury(MTBI).

Methods：Thirty seven patients with MTBI were selected from those patients who had visited the Department of Neuropsychiatry of Wonkwang University Hospital from 2003 to 2007. To assess and quantify the somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety, Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) was used. Assessment of cognitive function was carried out by using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS), Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kims Executive Function Test. The effects of somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety on the cognitive function were evaluated by Pearson correlation test.

Results：Somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety, all showed inverse correlation to cognitive function. Specifically, 1) an increase in somatic symptoms was associated with a decrease in attention, verbal short term memory, verbal recall and recognition, and visual memory. 2) An increase in anxiety was associated with a decrease in verbal recall and recognition. 3) An increase in depression was associated with a decrease in cognitive function that requires high attention and verbal memory.

Conclusion：The patients with MTBI displayed diverse symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment to somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Somatic and emotional symptoms were correlated with cognitive function(especially executive function). Importantly, this study raises the possibility of treating the cognitive impairment associated with MTBI by treating somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

Keywords Mild traumatic brain injury;Cognitive function;Depression;Anxiety.