PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS OF SUBDURAL HEMATOMA AND EFFUSION FROM BLAST
WALTER D. ABBOTT MC-V(S) U.S.N.R.1,
FLOYD O. DUE MC-V(S) U.S.N.R.1, , and
WILLIAM A. NOSIK MC-V(S) U.S.N.R.1
1 The Neuropsychiatric and Neurosurgical Departments, U. S. Naval Hospital, Oakland, California.
1. Subdural hematoma and effusion are complications of high-explosive blast injuries.
2. Diagnosis of these conditions depends primarily on psychiatric estimation of personality changes and intellectual impairment. Neurological abnormalities are absent in approximately 80 per cent of the cases.
3. The Shipley-Hartford Retreat Scale and the Rorschach test are effective aids in the diagnosis of this condition.
4. Pneumoencephalograms demonstrate absence of cortical markings in the involved area.
5. Improvement following evacuation of the fluid is demonstrated clinically, by the Shipley-Hartford Retreat Test, and by means of the Rorschach technique.
