Using a temporal discounting paradigm to measure decision-making and impulsivity following traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

PRIMARY
OBJECTIVE: This study reports on a pilot study using a temporal discounting paradigm and a standardized impulsivity questionnaire to examine decision-making in a group of brain injured patients and age matched controls. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were asked to choose between a larger reward available at a specified time in the future and smaller reward available immediately. OUTCOME AND
RESULTS: Each of the two groups demonstrated temporal discounting; that is, the subjective value of the reward decreased with increasing delay. However, the TBI group discounted more than the controls, suggesting that their decision-making was more impulsive.
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a temporal discounting paradigm might be a useful method of assessing decision-making after head trauma, especially in cases where capacity to make decisions about financial awards is an issue or in respect of money management generally.