Assessment of motor and process skills reflects brain-injured patients' ability to resume independent living better than neuropsychological tests

OBJECTIVE: To compare recovery of cognitive functions and activities of daily living during the first year of rehabilitation after severe brain trauma. METHODS: Sixteen patients were evaluated by neuropsychological tests and occupational performance (assessment of motor and process skills, AMPS) on admission to the rehabilitation centre and 3, 6 and 12 months later. RESULTS: Cognitive functions improved continuously. Motor skills recovered rapidly and were relatively stable after 3 months. For process skills recovery was protracted. Six of 15 patients were still below the cut-off level after 12 months. Eleven of 13 patients deteriorated regarding process skills after leaving the rehabilitation centre. CONCLUSION: AMPS gives a different view of the patient's restitution than neuropsychological tests and may be a better indicator of the patients' ability to resume independent living. The deterioration of process skills post-rehabilitation suggests that lasting contact in an outpatient setting might facilitate return to social life.