NeuroRehabilitation
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2003
Case ReportsLoxapine versus olanzapine in the treatment of delirium following traumatic brain injury.
The use of typical neuroleptics has always been the mainstay of treatment for delirium following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given the recent application of atypical neuroleptics to various psychiatric conditions formerly treated with typical neuroleptics, one questions whether this new class of drugs is superior to its predecessor in treating delirium post-TBI. We present a case of one patient with TBI-induced delirium where in fact the use of the typical mid-potency neuroleptic, loxapine, appeared to have a better clinical effect over the atypical neuroleptic, olanzapine.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2003
Cognitive impairment in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorder--a matched control study.
To verify the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) and to provide a more detailed description of the impairment's character and context. ⋯ Compared to healthy controls, patients performed worse overall. Concerning verbal reaction time, the impairment was correlated with pain intensity. The findings support the hypothesis that pain might be one important factor leading to cognitive impairment in patients with chronic WAD.
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Postconcussive symptoms such as headache, dizziness, irritability, and difficulties with memory and attention are reported frequently after traumatic brain injuries (TBI) of all severities. The etiology of these symptoms in individuals with mild TBI has been a subject of some controversy with theories ranging from neural damage to malingering. ⋯ In other words, because the locations and severity of injury vary between individuals despite ostensibly similar injuries, it follows that there should be variations in symptom type and severity between individuals as well. This article reviews the sequelae and natural course of recovery from mild TBI, the evidence regarding both persistent postconcussive symptoms and the postconcussive syndrome, and outlines an approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals with these symptoms after TBI.
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Anxiety disorders are common in the general population and may be even more common in people with traumatic brain injuries. This article presents a review of the literature on anxiety disorders as a result of traumatic brain injury, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. ⋯ Issues regarding treatment are largely anecdotal, and much remains unsettled. More research is needed, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyImpact of minority status following traumatic spinal cord injury.
To interpret the data from the Spinal Cord Injury-Model Systems as it applies to demographics, incidence and functional outcomes of minority patients with spinal cord injury. ⋯ Analysis of the data indicates that violence is the leading single cause of spinal cord injury in minority patients admitted to the model systems centers. The majority of patients who sustained spinal cord injury secondary to violence were minorities with the following demographics: young, single, unemployed males, with less than a high school education, residing in an urban area.