Neuropsychological Management Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Despite the importance of the problem, strikingly little has been written about effective approaches to the treatment of individuals with mild to moderate brain injury. This book is designed for neuropsychologists, counseling and rehabilitation psychologists, and other rehabilitation professionals who work with individuals who have sustained brain injuries of mild to moderate severity. It provides a context for understanding and evaluating the common consequences of such injuries and offers both theoretical perspectives and practical suggestions for helping individuals to adjust to and compensate for residual difficulties. Early chapters focus on different domains of cognitive functioning, while later chapters describe clinical approaches to helping clients manage common emotional reactions such as depression, irritability, and anxiety. While the book acknowledges and discusses the controversy about the origins of persistent symptoms following mild brain injures, it does not focus on the controversy. Rather, it adopts a "what works" approach to dealing with individuals who have persistent symptoms and perceptions that contribute to disability and to emotional distress. Many of these individuals benefit significantly from neuropsychological intervention. Case examples throughout the book illustrate the adaptation of cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and traditional psychotherapeutic approaches to individuals with mild to moderate brain injury. Self-regulation and self-management of both cognitive failures and emotional responses are described as appropriate and effective in this population.

Moving beyond the debate over whether and to what degree mild head injury has lasting neuropsychological sequelae, this book is predicated on the assumption that it does cause some problems in some circumstances for some people. It focuses on the practical questions of who is injured, how injuries manifest themselves, and what evaluation and treatment strategies are optimal, for families as well as patients. The distinguished authors bring to their task not only scientific expertise but extensive day-to-day clinical experience. This book will be widely welcomed as the first comprehensive overview of what we have learned from research and clinical experience about these difficult cases.

Every year, an estimated 1.7 million Americans sustain brain injury. Long-term disabilities impact nearly half of moderate brain injury survivors and nearly 50,000 of these cases result in death. Brain Neurotrauma: Molecular, Neuropsychological, and Rehabilitation Aspects provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account on the latest developments in the area of neurotrauma, including brain injury pathophysiology, biomarker research, experimental models of CNS injury, diagnostic methods, and neurotherapeutic interventions as well as neurorehabilitation strategies in the field of neurotraum research. The book includes several sections on neurotrauma mechanisms, biomarker discovery, neurocognitive/neurobehavioral deficits, and neurorehabilitation and treatment approaches. It also contains a section devoted to models of mild CNS injury, including blast and sport-related injuries. Over the last decade, the field of neurotrauma has witnessed significant advances, especially at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels. This progress is largely due to the introduction of novel techniques, as well as the development of new animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury. This book, with its diverse coherent content, gives you insight into the diverse and heterogeneous aspects of CNS pathology and/or rehabilitation needs.

This is the first neuropsychology book to translate exciting findings from the recent explosion of research on sport-related concussion to the broader context of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and post-concussive syndrome (PCS) in the general population. In addition, it includes a Continuing Education (CE) component administered by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology. Traumatic brain injuries constitute a major global public health problem, but until now, MTBIs, which constitute up to 90 percent of all treated TBIs, have been difficult to evaluate and manage clinically because of the absence of a viable model. Dr. McCrea's book thus provides a welcome evidence base for all clinicians - including psychologists, neuropsychologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, rehabilitation medicine physicians, physiatrists, and nurses - involved in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MTBI, as well as attorneys involved in personal injury litigation and personal injury defense. Each section of the book ends with a helpful summary of the 'Top 10 Conclusions.' Instructions for earning AACN-administered CE credit are included.

A cutting-edge synthesis of science and practice, this book covers everything from sports-related concussions to less common types of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and related complications. Preeminent authorities review what is known about mTBI in childhood and adolescence?including its biomechanics, pathophysiology, and neurological and neurobehavioral outcomes?and showcase evidence-based clinical evaluation tools and management strategies. Challenging areas such as evaluating complicated mTBI and treating persistent problems after injury are discussed in detail. Also addressed are forensic issues, injury in very early childhood, and other special-interest topics.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health issue of worldwide proportions, affecting motorists, victims of interpersonal violence, athletes, military service members, and Veterans, among others. Management of Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury provides evidence-informed guidance on the core topics in brain injury medicine, including the epidemiology and pathophysiology of TBI, the medical evaluation and neuropsychological assessment of persons with TBI, and the common cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and other neurological disturbances for which persons with TBI and their families seek clinical care. The volume offers many useful features to its readers, including: Chapters written by an internationally known group of editors and contributors offering cutting-edge, multidisciplinary perspectives in brain injury medicine. Guidance on the identification and management of early and late postinjury neuropsychiatric disturbances as well as their psychological and psychosocial consequences. Identification of special issues relevant to the evaluation and treatment of TBI and postconcussive symptoms among military service members, and Veterans. Discussion of the ethics and methods of forensic assessment of persons with TBI. Key Clinical Points that highlight concepts, assessment issues, and clinical management strategies in each chapter. A wealth of tables and figures to enhance the accessibility and clinical utility of the book, as well as appendices of additional readings and relevant websites for persons and families affected by TBI and the clinicians providing their care. Impressive breadth and depth of coverage, logical structure, clinically rich detail, and concise presentation make Management of Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury a must-read for every physician, nurse, and mental health practitioner working to improve the lives of persons with TBI.

Events that lead to traumatic brain injury are often also psychologically traumatic. Addressing a growing need among mental health practitioners, this authoritative book brings together experts in both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Chapters present empirically based best practices for conceptualization, assessment, and intervention. The book also addresses the biological and psychosocial mechanisms by which PTSD and mTBI complicate each other; management of commonly associated conditions, including chronic pain and substance abuse; special considerations in military contexts; and possible ways to improve the structure and cost-effectiveness of providing care in this challenging area.

This authoritative volume is the first book specifically devoted to symptom validity assessment with individuals with a known or suspected history of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). It brings together leading experts in MTBI, symptom validity assessment, and malingering to provide a thorough and practical guide to the challenging task of assessing the validity of patient presentations after an MTBI. The book describes techniques that can drastically alter case conceptualization, treatment, and equitable allocation of resources. In addition to covering the most important symptom validity assessment methods, this timely volume provides guidance to clinicians on professional and research issues, and information on symptom validity testing in varied populations. The book covers MTBI assessment in such specific settings and populations as clinical, forensic, sports, children, gerontological, and military. It also addresses professional issues such as providing feedback to patients about symptom validity, ethical issues, and diagnostic schemas. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury will provide neuropsychologists, referring health care providers, courts, disability insurance companies, the military, and athletic teams/leagues with the in-depth, current information that is critical for the accurate and ethical evaluation of MTBI. Key Features: Provides in-depth, expert coverage of one of the most critical topics for clinical neuropsychologists Includes contributions from the leading authorities on both MTBI/post-concussive syndrome and malingering/symptom validity Covers assessment in such contexts as civil forensics, sports, military/veterans, and gerontological settings