Dysexecutive symptoms and carer strain following acquired brain injury: Changes measured before and after holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Rachel A Goodwin,Nadina B Lincoln,Andrew Bateman,Rick Parente

doi:10.3233/nre-161338

Rachel A Goodwin, Nadina B Lincoln + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3233/nre-161338

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Journal: NeuroRehabilitation	Publication Date: Jul 6, 2016
Citations: 16	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Nottingham, Digital Catapult

Abstract

Following acquired brain injury (ABI), deficits in executive functioning (EF) are common. As a result many brain-injured patients encounter problems in every-day functioning, and their families experience significant strain. Previous research has documented the benefits of cognitive rehabilitation for executive dysfunction, and rehabilitation programmes designed to ameliorate functional problems associated with ABI. This study primarily aims to evaluate whether a neuropsychological rehabilitation programme reduces reported symptoms of everyday dysexecutive behaviour and carer strain. In this study 66 ABI outpatients attended comprehensive holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation programme. A repeated-measures design was employed to determine the effect of rehabilitation on EF and carer strain, as part of a service evaluation. Outcome measures comprised the dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX/DEX-I) and carer strain index (CSI), applied pre- and post-rehabilitation. Results indicate rehabilitation benefited clients and carers in 5 of 6 DEX/DEX-I subscales, and 2 of 3 CSI subscales, (p < 0.05). An effect of aetiology on rehabilitation was found on the metacognitive scale of the DEX-I. Therefore, this study supports a comprehensive holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation programme as effective in reducing reported symptoms of dysexecutive behaviour and carer strain following ABI.

Highlights

Cognitive deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI), such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), (Cicerone et al, 2000)
This study primarily aims to evaluate whether a comprehensive, holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation programme reduces reported symptoms of everyday dysexecutive behaviour and carer strain
No significant effect of rehabilitation was established on the metacognitive subscale of dysexecutive questionnaire requires participants (DEX)-I

Summary

Introduction

Cognitive deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI), such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), (Cicerone et al, 2000). R.A. Goodwin et al / Dysexecutive symptoms and carer strain following ABI. Following acquired brain injury (ABI), deficits in executive functioning (EF) are common. Previous research has documented the benefits of cognitive rehabilitation for executive dysfunction, and rehabilitation programmes designed to ameliorate functional problems associated with ABI. OBJECTIVES: This study primarily aims to evaluate whether a neuropsychological rehabilitation programme reduces reported symptoms of everyday dysexecutive behaviour and carer strain. A repeated-measures design was employed to determine the effect of rehabilitation on EF and carer strain, as part of a service evaluation. Outcome measures comprised the dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX/DEX-I) and carer strain index (CSI), applied pre- and post-rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: this study supports a comprehensive holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation programme as effective in reducing reported symptoms of dysexecutive behaviour and carer strain following ABI

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