Brain Injury News | Rainbow Visions Magazine

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Mental Health articles focus on behavioral issues, substance abuse, medications, dual diagnosis and more. Select from the following PDF articles:

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Antidepressants (590 KB) – A review of common antidepressant medications.

Behaviors, How to Improve (392 KB) – Brain injury survivors may experience a range of neuro-psychological problems depending on the part of the brain that is affected and the severity of the injury. Personality changes, memory and judgment deficits, lack of impulse control and poor concentration are all common. This article reviews strategies for managing negative behaviors with an effective behavior plan.

Depression – Coping Strategies – Depression a condition marked by emotional and physical problems. People who are depressed experience a loss of pleasure in things that were once enjoyable to them. This article explains common coping mechanisms for depression.

Depression – Predictors with TBI (814 KB) – Depression after TBI is not just a difficult and painful emotional experience. It also compounds many of the challenges that individuals with TBI typically face after injury.

Substance Abuse and the Five Stages of Change (212 KB) – When individuals are treated in a brain injury rehabilitation environment, problems with substance abuse require the support of the treatment team, family, and friends to help break the cycle of addiction. Individuals typically go through five stages prior to changing their behavior – pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance.

Functional Impact of Brain Injury (180 KB) – Functional changes following brain injury are different
than broken bones that heal over time. While broken bones eventually heal, cognitive, sensorimotor and behavioral deficits can result in lifelong changes in how an individual functions in society. This article addresses functional changes after a brain injury.

Neuropsychological Assessment (208 KB) – A neuropsychological assessment attempts to evaluate the cognition, mood, personality and behavior of an individual. The evaluation usually includes a formal interview; a review of medical, educational and vocational records; interviews of significant others and testing using standardized neuropsychological instruments.

Treating TBI and PTSD (412 KB) – Dr. Colin King, Director of Adult Behavioral Services at Rainbow, examines the struggles of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors who also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).