Abstract
An estimated 60.25% of offenders have a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). There is currently no established valid or reliable screening tool for identifying female prisoners with a TBI and associated cognitive impairment available in the UK. Using a cross-sectional design, this study aimed to investigate the retest reliability and construct validity of the Brain Injury Screening Index (BISI). Convergent validity was explored using self-report measures of mood and neurodisability, as well as a battery of neuropsychological assessments of cognitive functioning. Of a planned sample of 73 participants, preliminary data from 23 participants has been analysed. 69.56% of participants were identified as having a history of TBI, with a mean of 2.09 TBIs. Intraclass correlation coefficients reached statistical significance for six of 10 identified key clinical indicators on the BISI. The BISI variables did not reach statistically significant convergence with most of the test battery. Two of the four BISI summary variables demonstrated correlations in the hypothesised directions across the full assessment battery, however only one BISI variable reached statistical significance with one subscale in the battery. Analyses provide support for further investigation into the construct validity and retest reliability of the BISI with a larger sample. The implications of these findings, particularly in refining the BISI, and future research and practice are considered.