Negative symptoms in the traumatically brain-injured during the first year postdischarge, and their effect on rehabilitation status, work status and family burden

Abstract

Approximately one year after discharge from postacute rehabilitation, 47 severely head-injured patients showed physical, cognitive, subjective, emotional and behavioural changes from their preinjury status, according to relatives/carers. Negative symptoms were prominent, and were related to employment status, overall rehabilitation status and relatives'/carers' levels of stress and psychological morbidity.

Burden and coping among the relatives and carers of brain-injured survivors

“…8 Relatives of severely head-injured persons are often under considerable strain, 5,9 many showing measurable anxiety and mood disorder.8,1O,1l The problems most closely associated with relatives' strain are again psychological rather than physi-cal and include subjective complaints, emotional changes, positive behaviour disturbance and lack of engagement and spontaneity. 5,7,8,10,12 However, after all these sources of strain have been taken into account, some relatives show little signs of stress caring for very difficult patients, whereas some seem to be under severe stress with relatively less damaged patients. 13 One reason for this is certainly the nature of the complaint and problems postinjury.…”

Evaluation of an Intervention for Apathy After Traumatic Brain Injury

“…This is of particular import given that apathy negatively impacts rehabilitation efforts, and this group is often seen to "drop out" of interventions. 4 Thus, greater effort than normally applied on the part of the clinician is required to construct an intervention relevant to the individual and keep him or her engaged. Despite these hurdles, further research into this area is essential, given the high prevalence, widespread consequences, and likelihood of this group of individuals not continuing with rehabilitation or seeking assistance.…”

Neurobehavioral and self-awareness changes after traumatic brain injury: Towards new multidimensional approaches

“…Apathetic manifestations are commonly described after TBI [5] and have been associated with major negative consequences, especially regarding patients' participation in rehabilitation [6,7], family life [8] and later social reintegration [9]. The complaint from patients or family members is often ''a lack of initiative, some passivity, disinterest towards oneself and others, lack of spontaneous conversation or even emotional blunting''.…”