Article

The objective of this study was to investigate perceived identity change in
adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and explore associations between
identity change, grief, depression, self-esteem and self-awareness.
The participants were 29 adults with TBI who were being followed up by a community
brain injury rehabilitation service. Participants were longer post-injury than
those more commonly studied. Time since injury ranged from 2.25 to 40 years (mean
= 11.17 years, SD = 11.4 years). Participants completed a battery of
questionnaires. Significant others and clinicians completed a parallel version of
one of these measures. Questionnaires included the Head Injury Semantic
Differential Scale (HISDS-III), Brain Injury Grief Inventory (BIGI), Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and
the Awareness Questionnaire (Self/Significant other/Clinician versions). The main
findings were that participants reported significant changes in self-concept with
current self being viewed negatively in comparison to pre-injury self. Perceived
identity change was positively associated with depression and grief and
negatively associated with self-esteem and awareness. Awareness was negatively
associated with self-esteem and positively associated with depression. These
findings were consistent with previous research, revealing changes in identity
following TBI. Further research is needed to increase our understanding of the
psychological factors involved in emotional adjustment after TBI and to inform
brain injury rehabilitation interventions, including psychotherapy approaches.

Langue : ANGLAIS