Efficacy of several statistical methods in differentiating TBI and co-occurring conditions: A replication study.

Abstract

Objectives: (1) Cross-validation of neuropsychological test data sets of moderate-severe TBI (N = 30) with test data from moderate-severe (N = 74); somatization (N = 24) and PCS (N = 22) cases in a database, (2) Determine if cognitive test data sets alone differentiated TBI from other groups, and (3) Evaluate the efficacy of measures in comparisons: Kullback-Leibler, Correlation, Patterns, Cohen's d, and MNB.

Materials and methods: Meyer's Neuropsychological System; Comparison groups -TBI sample with structural evidence of brain injury (CT/MRI); comparison of 5 statistical measures' efficacy in test data analysis comparing a community sample of moderate TBI (N=30) with a data base containing moderate-severe TBI (N = 74) + co-occurring groups (PCS N = 22) + Somatization (N = 24). Measures utilized: Correlation, Kullbeck-Leibler divergence, Cohen's d, MNB code, Configuration.

Results: Combining the five measures most accurately matched the TBI sample (30/30 cases) with MNB comparison groups of similar TBI severity while differentiating those cases from PCS and Somatoform cognitive testdata. Both Kullback Leibler & Cohens' d reduced false positive errors in comparison with the other measures.