The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
-
J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2014
Relationships between alexithymia, affect recognition, and empathy after traumatic brain injury.
To determine (1) alexithymia, affect recognition, and empathy differences in participants with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI); (2) the amount of affect recognition variance explained by alexithymia; and (3) the amount of empathy variance explained by alexithymia and affect recognition. ⋯ Results suggest that people who have a tendency to avoid thinking about emotions (externally-oriented thinking) are more likely to have problems recognizing others' emotions and assuming others' points of view. Clinical implications are discussed.
-
J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2014
Exploring the role of insomnia in the relation between PTSD and pain in veterans with polytrauma injuries.
Soldiers returning from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom experience polytrauma injuries including traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury is often complicated by symptoms of insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pain that can impact treatment and rehabilitation. ⋯ These results highlight the overlap and complexity of presenting complaints in veterans and help identify the role of sleep disturbances in complicating diagnosis and treatment of veterans. As sleep problems reduce pain tolerance and exacerbate other symptoms, such as cognitive deficits and irritability, failure to address sleep disturbances may compromise rehabilitation efforts, suggesting the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to assessing and treating these veterans.
-
J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2014
Anxiety sensitivity and alexithymia as mediators of postconcussion syndrome following mild traumatic brain injury.
To examine the influence of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and alexithymia as potential mediators for the development of psychological distress and postconcussion syndrome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). ⋯ A combination of low mood and high AS may act as a psychological diathesis for the development of persisting PC symptoms. Early identification could provide a focus for early intervention to prevent the development of postconcussion syndrome after mTBI.
-
J Head Trauma Rehabil · Nov 2013
Self-awareness and health-related quality of life after traumatic brain injury.
To investigate the relations among self-awareness (SA), impaired SA, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ After TBI, lower SA is associated with higher estimates of HRQOL, particularly in the cognitive domain. Although the associations are modest, the assessment of SA should play a role in the interpretation of reported HRQOL after TBI.
-
J Head Trauma Rehabil · Nov 2013
Does isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage affect outcome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury?
The importance of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in relation to functional outcome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been frequently studied. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of isolated SAH with normal computed tomographic (CT) scan on outcome of patients with mild TBI. ⋯ In our study sample of patients with mild TBI, there is no difference in outcome of patients with isolated SAH compared with those with normal CT scans 1 year after injury.