Contribution of the neuropsychological assessment in concussion.
INTRODUCTION
The neuropsychological assessment is a cornerstone in the care management of concussion or mild traumatic injury.


OBJECTIVE
To present the different stages of an exhaustive neuropsychological assessment exploring cognitive and behavioral domains.


METHOD
Description of the value of the main tests available for behavioral and cognitive assessment. The choice of tests is based on the clinical experience and expertise of the authors.


RESULTS
Questionnaires are mainly used to explore the behavioral sequelae (depression, anxiety or fatigue) and the impact of these potential difficulties in daily life. Four cognitive abilities could be impaired by concussion: attention, memory, visuospatial functions and executive functions. These abilities could be explored with "paper and pencil" tests or with computerized test batteries. While cognitive sequelae in the context of a moderate or a severe traumatic brain injury are consolidated, in the context of concussion, neuropsychological sequelae tend to resolve in a short time. As a consequence, several neuropsychological assessments could be conducting in a short period involving some methodological considerations. Moreover, as concussion could be reported in a Whiplash injury from a car crash with forensic consequences, it is crucial to propose tests to be sure that the weak performance obtained into the neuropsychological assessment is not explained by poor effort and/or malingering.


DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
This article revises these aspects of a neuropsychological assessment in the specific context of concussion.
['Moroni|C|C|', 'Belin|C|C|']
D000203:Activities of Daily Living D001007:Anxiety D001519:Behavior D001924:Brain Concussion D003071:Cognition D003863:Depression D005221:Fatigue D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008306:Malingering D009460:Neurologic Examination D009483:Neuropsychological Tests D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014911:Whiplash Injuries
Neuropsychology Concussion Cognitive assessment Behavioral assessment. Commotion cérébrale Neuropsychologie Évaluation cognitive Évaluation comportementale