Is performance on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence associated with employment outcome following brain injury?

Return to work represents a significant marker of functional outcome for persons who have suffered a brain injury. Neuropsychological assessment forms an integral part of treatment planning following brain injury and aims to document cognitive strengths and weaknesses, including general intellectual abilities. Neuropsychological testing has been criticised for having limited ability to predict functional outcomes such as return to work. The present study sought to examine the association between return to work following ABI and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Patient files in a community neurorehabilatation service were reviewed retrospectively and 52 individuals were identified who had been employed at the time of their injury and for whom a WASI was completed. The study found full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, the similarities sub-test, and severity of injury to be associated with return to work.