The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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To review novel techniques of noninvasive brain stimulation (NBS), which may have value in assessment and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Different forms of NBS techniques harbor the promise of diagnostic and therapeutic utility, particularly to guide processes of cortical reorganization and enable functional restoration in TBI. Future lines of safety research and well-designed clinical trials in TBI are warranted to determine the capability of NBS to promote recovery and minimize disability.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jul 2012
ReviewTreatment of disorders of consciousness in the Veterans Health Administration polytrauma centers.
This article describes the evolution of the emerging consciousness programs and the approach to care for veterans and active duty service members with disorders of consciousness (DOC) at the 4 polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the Veterans Health Administration. Compared to traditional rehabilitation patients, DOC patients have unique recovery patterns and rehabilitative needs, and they require an intensive medical and nursing support structure. ⋯ It is the authors' intentions to bridge the literature gap in regard to programmatic structure, treatment approaches for those with DOC, and support of their caregivers. This article includes descriptions of medical care protocols, review of stimulation approaches (environmental and pharmacologic) caregiver support, and monitoring of recovery patterns.