Psychosocial outcome following individualized neuropsychological rehabilitation of brain damage

Abstract

At the center for Rehabilitation of Brain Damage, University of Copenhagen, 46 consecutively admitted brain-damaged patients with varying pathologies and who were on average 2.9 years post-injury were treated in a daily four-month rehabilitation program in groups of about 10, followed by a six-month period of contact varying according to individual needs. An evaluation of psychosocial outcome is presented. The results, based on comparisons between pre-, post-treatment and follow-up questionnaire data, show continuing functional improvements in the areas of family life and living conditions. Dependence on health services declined. Over 70% of the patients returned to either work, further education or voluntary work activities. For the whole group, leisure activities returned to the pre-injury level. Follow-up at about two years revealed continuing improvements in all areas, suggesting social readaptation to a degree above expectations as judged from the existing literature.