Article

The aim of the study was to describe the development and predictors of
psychological adjustment during community-based traumatic brain injury (TBI)
rehabilitation. Forty-two adolescent and adult individuals with TBI (mean age 32
years, 88% male, median post-traumatic amnesia 11 days) participated in a
single-group, longitudinal design study. The main measures used were the
Reactions to Impairment and Disability Inventory, Adjustment subscale; Sydney
Psychosocial Reintegration Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and
Self-awareness of Deficits Interview. At rehabilitation start, individuals
differed significantly from each other with respect to their level of
psychological adjustment. Individual trajectories of psychological adjustment
were highly variable. However, for the sample as a whole, psychological
adjustment did not change during the course of rehabilitation (multilevel
regression models; p > .05). Good psychological adjustment was related to low
levels of emotional distress and a small discrepancy between current and aspired
functional status. Poor functional status had a more minor impact on
psychological adjustment in individuals with poor self-awareness than in
individuals with high levels of self-awareness. The results confirm parts of
theoretical models of psychological adjustment to acquired brain injury,
especially the importance of goal refinement. However, the results need to be
treated cautiously, given the limited sample size.

Langue : ANGLAIS