EBP Compendium: Summary of Systematic Review
A Meta-Analytic Review of Verbal Fluency Performance in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury
Henry, J. D., & Crawford, J. R.
(2004).
Neuropsychology, 18(4), 621–628.
Indicators of Review Quality:
|
The review addresses a clearly focused question
| No |
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Criteria for inclusion of studies are provided
| Yes |
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Search strategy is described in sufficient detail for replication
| Yes |
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Included studies are assessed for study quality
| No |
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Quality assessments are reproducible
| Yes* |
Description: This is a meta-analysis of studies investigating the sensitivity of tests of verbal fluency to the presence of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Question(s) Addressed:
Question not specifically stated.
Population: Adults with TBI
Intervention/Assessment: A measure of phonemic or semantic fluency
Number of Studies Included: 30
Years Included: 1986–2002
Findings:
Conclusions:
- Assessment/Diagnosis
- Assessment Areas & Assessment Instruments
- Cognitive-Communication
- The authors conclude that “the presence of TBI was associated with comparable deficits on tests of phonemic and semantic fluency” (p. 625) which is suggestive of impaired executive function.
- Individuals with traumatic brain injury scored significantly lower on phonemic and semantic fluency tests in comparison to healthy controls.
- “The phonemic fluency deficit could not be accounted for by level of pre-morbid IQ or current verbal IQ” (p. 627). Additionally phonemic fluency deficits were “substantially (although not significantly) in excess of the deficit on a measure of psychometric speed” (p. 627).
- The authors also found phonemic fluency to be “more sensitive to the presence of TBI” (p. 627) than the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
Keywords: Brain Injury
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Note:
*Additional details for the review are provided on the APA website.
Added to Compendium: August 2010