Ambiguous Loss and Emotional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is highly prevalent, with many survivors experiencing long‐term disability as a consequence of cognitive impairments, adverse personality changes, and emotional and communication difficulties. Because family members most often assume the long‐term role of caregiver, their feelings, relationships, and life plans are often negatively affected. Boss has defined a type of ambiguous loss in which the person is physically present but psychologically absent, which is the case for many families after brain injury. Over the past 2 decades we have developed interventions incorporating ambiguous loss theory to enhance resilience and improve psychological outcomes in families after TBI. This article provides a brief overview of TBI, discusses ambiguous loss in families after TBI, and describes the therapeutic goals and framework of empirically supported family interventions using the lens of ambiguous loss theory.