Assessment of traumatic brain injury

On average, 200–300 per 100,000 in the population attend hospital with head injury every year, with perhaps one-sixth being admitted. Of those admitted:

• 80% have mild head injuries

• 10% have moderate head injuries

• 10% have severe head injuries.

Head injury imparts at a blow both physical and psychological trauma, 'and the consequences are often devastating and enduring' (Lishman, 1988).

Not infrequently, traumatic brain injury results in an array of cognitive, emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms, which may lead to a psychiatric consultation. This consultation will need to take into account the interplay between the individual's pre-injury constitution, the brain and its injuries, as well as the psychodynamic processes that follow from the injury.

This module will give you a better understanding of the assessment of traumatic brain injury, the steps and the criteria used to measure the severity of the injury and the extent to which the symptoms may derive directly from damage to the brain.

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