1/4. A treatment selection model for weight reduction in adults with acquired brain injury: applications and preliminary findings.This article presents a unique method for providing weight management assistance to persons who have experienced an acquired brain injury (ABI). Most of the available literature on this topic deals with weight loss methods for individuals who are not faced with the cognitive and behavioural challenges inherent in this population. A treatment selection protocol will be described that allows for appropriate selection of behavioural weight loss interventions. Interventions are based upon specific cognitive and behavioural difficulties that individuals with acquired brain injury may present. A detailed case study will also be presented depicting successful use of the treatment selection model with an adult male with an acquired brain injury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Executive amnesia in a patient with pre-frontal damage due to a gunshot wound.This paper reports the case of a young patient with extensive pre-frontal damage in whom we tested the hypothesis that intensive training improves executive performance as assessed by the wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). As long as her declarative memory, complex perceptual abilities and global cognitive status were spared, we surmised that any deficit in executive learning would have occurred in relative isolation. We showed that her abnormal performance on the WCST, both on the standard as well as on the post-instruction condition, was due to an impairment of shifting attention across perceptual dimensions (extra-dimensional). In contrast, her ability to shift attention within perceptual categories (intra-dimensional) was spared, as were her declarative memory, object and visuospatial perception, oral language comprehension and praxis (ideomotor, tool use and constructional). This case supports the hypothesis that executive amnesia is a type of amnesic disorder distinct from the classic amnesic syndrome due to mamillo-temporomedial damage. As such, it is probably closely related to procedural learning and may depend on the same fronto-subcortical loops that mediate the actual execution of behaviour.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. brain injury case management: the potential and limitations of late-stage intervention--a pilot study.The focus of this study was to be upon case management intervention with the longer-term, often insidious cognitive and behavioural problems of brain injured patients, to effect a cohesive response towards improvement of function and social/community reintegration. Ten 'in depth' case management studies were developed. Age, sex, cause of injury, time post-injury, nature of brain injury,sequelae-and consequent intervention-differed widely. Three studies are precised in this paper. There was no attempt to match or compare such a diverse group, each was accepted on the basis of need and potential benefit. Available information for each was studied. Field assessment was by the case manager who then engaged whatever appropriate resources could be mustered on behalf of the individual client. For some, this permitted access to funding for further assessments or specific inputs, for others there was nothing available other than existing statutory or voluntary agencies. For field assessment purposes, the case manager developed informal ratings of a range of disabilities within the cognitive and behavioural realms and the handicaps resulting. The assessments and nature of interventions are described, discussed and conclusions offered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Through children's eyes: children's experience of living with a parent with an acquired brain injury.While previous literature on brain injury reports high levels of stress and burden in primary caregivers, the impact on children has been overlooked. This paper reports on an in-depth, qualitative research project exploring the experiences of four children living with fathers with an acquired brain injury (ABI). The findings indicate that these children were negatively impacted and at risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties. The children reported a complexity of feelings associated with the trauma and multiple losses, including profound grief, social isolation and fear of family disintegration and violence. Despite the difficulties they faced, the children also demonstrated resilience and reported positive outcomes such as having greater independence. Although only a small pilot study, the current findings highlight the need for both clinicians and researchers to be more proactive in questioning their clients and families about the level of violence following ABI and that disclosure may be more likely to occur with on-going involvement and support. The study concludes that early intervention and systemic support is required to minimize the trauma for these children. Further research is recommended, not only to replicate these findings in a larger sample, but also to explore in-depth children's experience of living with a parent with a brain injury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |