Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

The results of this study provide empirical support for a radical change in the type of services provided for individuals affected by TBI. First, it is suggested that rehabilitation services emphasize adjustment in the domains of social and emotional functioning, as these are the areas of functioning that prove most problematic for individuals affected by TBI (e.g., Brooks & McKinlay, 1983; Lezak, 1978). Second, it is recommended that services be provided within the context of the family system, in recognition that TBI-related problems affect the entire family (Brooks, 1984, 1991; Lezak, 1988). Third, rehabilitation should be based on a broadly conceived neuropsychosocial model (Knight, 1992) and involve the application of a psychological intervention process to TBI problems (Kafner & Grimm, 1980). This process involves core components of education and case monitoring, in addition to individually tailored cognitive behavioral interventions based on a functional assessment of the circumstances of the TBI individual and his family.