Pharmacological TreatmentEfficacy of Pharmacological Treatment of Working Memory Impairment After Traumatic Brain Injury: Evaluation With fMRI

Inclusion Criteria:

We will include only those subjects who have sustained moderate to severe initial injuries, as defined by an initial 24-hour Glasgow Coma Scale 128 scores below 13. In the event that a GCS score is not available, subjects will only be included if there is sufficient medical documentation that would allow for a post-hoc estimation of initial GCS, or if other confirmatory data (e.g., positive anatomic neuroimaging findings, focal neurologic signs) are available. Individuals with a history of prior moderate to severe head injury, stroke, seizures, severe psychiatric disturbances (i.e., those known to influence memory performance, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), or drug abuse will not be included as subjects. In addition, a score of 11 or greater on the Mini Mental Status Exam will be required to insure that subject can participate effectively in the study protocol. Because of potential effects on cognition and hemodynamic response, subjects currently taking benzodiazepines, narcotics, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants, antispasticity agents or psychostimulants will not be included.

In addition, any patient that is on medications that may interact with any of the study medications (e.g. birth control bills or cyclosporin). Psychiatric symptoms and substance abuse history will be obtained using a structured psychiatric interview, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule 129DIS. In addition patients with history of drug dependency, hypertension out of control, significant cardiac disease, or inability to undergo MRI. (e.g. metalworker, Medtronic infusion pump)