Abstract
The prediction of vocational success following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has recently received considerable attention in the literature. The majority of the studies have focused on the resumption of work by individuals who were employed at the time of the injury. However, given the relatively young age of the population, many individuals with TBI would have been preparing to enter the workforce at the time of the injury. Others may not have been working due to other reasons, such as actively abusing substances. The purpose of the current study is to examine vocational success for individuals who were not working at the time of the injury, based on data gathered during the Suboptimal Outcomes Study.
Almost 50% of our consecutive sample of 358 persons with TBI admitted to a specialized brain injury rehabilitation unit were not competitively employed at the time of injury. Sixteen percent were students and 5% were retired due to age. At the time of first year follow-up, 39% of the followup sample were employed at least part time, 27% were unemployed and receiving disability payments, 27% were unemployed and not receiving disability, and 7% were retired. Of those working prior to the injury, 50% were working at the time of the one-year follow-up. Of those who were not previously employed or retired, 10% were working at one year. By the time of the second year follow-up, 44% of the followup sample were competitively employed. Of those working premorbidly, 48% were working at the time of the second year follow-up. Of those who were not employed pre-injury, 27% were working at the time of the second year follow-up.
Preliminary analyses suggest that age, cognitive functioning at admission to rehabilitation, and use of alcohol or other drugs at follow-up may predict return to work for those who were premorbidly employed. Analysis of factors predicting new entrance into the workforce is currently being conducted.
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