Confronting Traumatic Brain Injury

William Winslade presents facts about traumatic brain injury; information about its financial and emotional costs to individuals, families, and society; and key ethical and policy issues. He illustrates each aspect with dramatic case studies, including his own childhood brain injury. He explains how the brain works and how severe injuries affect it, both immediately and over the long term, pointing out how resources are often squandered on patients with poor prognoses but adequate insurance, while underinsured patients with better prognoses often do not receive the best care. He describes the lack of regulation in the rehabilitation industry and what federal and state legislatures are doing to correct the situation. And he recommends policy changes for lowering the instances of traumatic brain injury (such as raising the minimum driving age) as well as practical steps that individuals can take to protect themselves from brain trauma. William J. Winslade is James Wade Rockwell Professor of Philosophy in Medicine at the Institute for the Medical Humanities, professor of preventive medicine and community health, and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He is also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Houston Health Law and Policy Institute.

Mild traumatic brain injury is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed problems in the United States today. Symptoms can mimic those of a stroke, depression, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Authors Stoler and Hill offer clear information on the different types of brain injury, as well as the treatment options available.

A comprehensive guide for improving memory, focus, and quality of life in the aftermath of a concussion. Often presenting itself after a head trauma, concussion— or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)— can cause chronic migraines, depression, memory, and sleep problems that can last for years, referred to as post concussion syndrome (PCS). Neuropsychologist and concussion survivor Dr. Diane Roberts Stoler is the authority on all aspects of the recovery process. Coping with Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is a lifeline for patients, parents, and other caregivers.

This thoroughly revised and updated work covers numerous advances in traumatic brain injury diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and pathophysiology. Since publication of the first edition in 2012, there has been greatly increased public awareness of the clinical consequences of even the mildest of head injuries, and the result has been a concerted effort of countries around the world to increase research funding. This second edition continues to focus on mild traumatic brain injury--or concussion--and contains updates to all the original chapters as well as adding new chapters addressing clinical sequelae, including pediatric concussion, visual changes, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and blast-associated TBI. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, Management, and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, is a comprehensive resource designed for neurologists, primary care clinicians, sports physicians, and other medical providers, including psychologists and neuropsychologists, as well as athletic trainers who may evaluate and care for individuals who have sustained a TBI. The book features summaries of the most pertinent areas of diagnosis and therapy, which can be readily accessed by the busy clinician/professional. In addition, the book's treatment algorithms provide a highly practical reference to cutting edge therapies, and an updated appendix of ICD codes is included. An outstanding contribution to the literature, Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, Management, and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, again offers an invaluable resource for all providers who treat patients with TBI.

The permanent effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not limited to the person who suffers the injury. People who care for the individual, particularly family members, suffer in various ways. Family members are often confused as to the behavioral and neuropsychological changes that they see in a brain-injured rela tive. They can become frustrated and angry when the individual does not return to premorbid levels of functioning. They can become tired and worn down from repeated problems in trying to manage the individual's difficulties while having only fragmented information regarding them. Drs. Smith and Godfrey have provided a useful service for family members by summarizing important neuropsychological changes associated with TBI and providing practical guidelines for coping with these problems. While the neuropsychological problems they describe are not completely understood, the authors provide a useful description of many of the neuro behavioral problems seen following TBI in young adults. They attempt to provide guidelines for family members that have practical utility in understanding and managing these patients. Theirs is a cognitive-behavioral approach that can have utility for this group of individuals. I applaud their efforts to provide something systematic and practical for family members.

Carl D. Schultz, who served in the U.S. Army, shares a moving collection of autobiographical stories and poetry inspired and strongly colored by the traumatic brain injury he suffered while in West Germany in 1987 in My Mind Me. His poetic, visceral voice is vivid and compelling, and the stories he shares are deeply intimate and evocative. He wrote this book partly as an exercise to understand his past after waking up from a six-month coma. In the process, however, he discovered that his life is not as tragic as it is confused. While he has little recollection of the two years before and twelve months after the horrific event, those three years that included graduating from college, jumping from airplanes, and sitting under the Eiffel Tower have no doubt played a critical role in making him the man he is today. Join Schultz as he sorts through confused memories to share an inspiring story of survival, grit, and courage.

Just the facts for coping with the after-effects of a brain injury Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) usually refers to people who have suffered a head injury or stroke but also includes those who have had brain tumours, an anoxic injury (where the brain has been starved of oxygen) or brain illnesses like encephalitis and meningitis. After an ABI, the brain undergoes a very slow healing process before improvements slow down and eventually plateau. This is different to other forms of brain conditions where the journey is more of a deteriorating one over time. ABI is commonly called 'a hidden disability' as it can easily be missed or misunderstood by others. Also it can significantly affect those close to the person and therefore it is frequently called 'a family affair' too. As the issues are often hidden, complicated and affect patients and families alike, this book can act as a roadmap to help you and your loved ones navigate through the complex and often unexpected challenges that can arise following a brain injury, using: - Cognitive rehabilitation approaches to understand and manage changes in our thinking abilities - Cognitive behavioural approaches to address ways in which our thoughts, feelings, actions and physical reactions relate to each other Dr Nigel King is a consultant clinical neuropsychologist specialising in brain injury. He is the clinical lead of the Community Head Injury Service, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, UK and neuropsychological lead at the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training & Research, University of Oxford. He has published widely on brain injury and he regularly speaks on the subject at national and international conferences.

Christian and Faith-based Counseling for Brain Injury is the first book of its kind to offer faith-based therapy to address the emotional, cognitive, and mental health needs of individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A highly researched piece of work, the book puts forth an innovative and effective method for not only addressing the challenges of a life-changing injury but also for creating a sense of purpose. Through the nuances of faith-based counselling, this book focuses on the spiritual and existential aspects of understanding the diagnosis and creating a purpose post-injury. It examines how brain injury can affect an individual by exploring the deficits of brain injury, the impact of brain injury, and the challenges specific to damage to certain brain lobes. It also describes the mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and posttraumatic stress, that can affect both the survivor and their family members. Offering targeted counseling techniques and adaptive strategies, it shows how faith-based counselors can effectively treat brain injury. This book is valuable reading for all individuals invested in providing support to the TBI community. It is aimed at counselors, lay counselors, healthcare professionals, social workers, psychotherapists, seminary students, and upper-level graduate students. It will further be of use to for clinicians working in the outpatient level of care and private practice settings.