Concussive Brain Trauma

Focusing on a public health problem affecting millions of people of all ages, the second edition of Concussive Brain Trauma: Neurobehavioral Impairment and Maladaptation reflects Dr. Rolland S. Parker's more than 25 years of neuropsychological practice and research in traumatic brain injury and stress, and his prior experience as a clinical psychologist. Unique in its coverage of the personality changes, family dysfunction, and stress that often occur in the wake of concussive brain trauma, this book uses case examples to illustrate persistent and acute alterations of consciousness, as well as cognitive, mood, personality, and social effects of head injury in order to guide appropriate treatment. With six additional chapters, this edition covers: Post-concussive syndrome, biomechanical causes of trauma, and acute and chronic phases of co-morbid brain and somatic injury The physiological basis for behavior and posttraumatic dysregulation of systems Disorders related to pain, sensation, and motor activities Headaches, consciousness, cognition, cerebral personality, and psychodynamic disorders Developmental effects of children's concussive injury Blast injuries characteristic of modern war Unfamiliar signs not included in the usual list of post-concussive symptoms With a firm multi-disciplinary foundation, this book aids the concerned practitioner in rendering a more complete and accurate assessment, recognizing gaps in prior documentation, and conducting a more complete examination to acquire omitted information. It also shows how to achieve the benefit of higher accuracy in assessing disability, planning rehabilitation, and offering compensation. The book stands alone as an in-depth, authoritative guide to closed head injury and traumatic brain injury.