HoNOS–ABI; a clinically useful outcome measure?

Abstract

Aims and MethodOutcome measurement has become increasingly important in brain injury rehabilitation. Health of the Nation Outcome Scale-Acquired Brain Injury (HoNOS–ABI) is a new outcome measure targeting psychiatric and other sequelae of brain injury. Forty patients' scores on three outcome measures and other ecologically valid markers of outcome were compared.ResultsSignificant correlation coefficients between HoNOS–ABI and two other outcome measures were found. Post-injury employment status correlated with HoNOS–ABI rating. Although there was a significant increase in need for psychiatric intervention following brain injury, this did not correlate with HoNOS–ABI ratings.Clinical ImplicationsHoNOS–ABI may be a useful additional measure of outcome following brain injury, specifically identifying the often missed psychiatric sequelae of a brain injury.