IQ loss and emotional dysfunctions after mild head injury incurred in a motor vehicle accident.

Intelligence and personality dysfunctions after minor traumatic brain injury (TBI) (whiplash; slight head impact) incurred in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) were studied in adults after an average interval of 20 months. There was a mean loss of 14 points of Full Scale IQ from estimated preinjury baseline IQ determined from the standardization group (WAIS-R) without evidence for recovery. Personality dysfunctions included cerebral personality disorder, psychiatric diagnosis (30 of 33 patients), post-traumatic stress disorder, persistent altered consciousness, and psychodynamic reactions to impairment. Cognitive loss is caused by interaction of brain injury with distractions such as pain and emotional distress. Unreported head impact and altered consciousness at the time of accident contribute to the underestimation of brain trauma after minor TBI.