Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Traumatic brain injury is a challenge to health providers in both the UK and the USA. Brain injury may effect all aspects of an individual's life. Psychiatric and personality as well as cognitive and behavioural changes are common in more severely injured people. Many victims live in institutions or in the community dependent upon family or state support. This study has been designed to help readers understand the causes and consequences of severe brain injury, theories of recovery of function, current intervention models and the principles of neurofunctional assessment and treatment. A neurofunctional approach aims to maximize functional independence and psychosocial adaptation. It considers neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological limitations to new learning resulting from damage to the central nervous system. Specific techniques are presented which together comprise a comprehensive intervention strategy for brain injury rehabilitation. The book looks at the brain injured individual in context. The environment may exacerbate disability or produce handicaps not inherently part of the condition.
Treatment aims to establish emotional well-being, develop functional capacities and maximize reintegration into society. The importance of the team approach and communication with the patient and family throughout treatment is stressed.