This important book describes the biopsychosocial nature of persisting and complex headache presentations following a mild brain trauma and offers a predominantly cognitive behavioural therapy programme to guide patients toward better health and less pain. The book provides both a robust theoretical underpinning and practical therapeutic guidance for helping those who suffer from posttraumatic headaches. Placing physical symptoms of trauma in context with personal and social issues, it discusses the broader psychological implications at work after brain injury, including the idea that headaches play a functional role for the patient. Updated with the latest research findings, the book features clinical guidelines, practitioner worksheets and relaxation scripts, offering an all-inclusive manual for therapists setting up their own programmes. Written with the busy clinician in mind, it is essential reading for anyone working with brain trauma survivors.
With the contribution from more than one hundred CNS neurotrauma experts, this book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account on the latest developments in the area of neurotrauma including biomarker studies, experimental models, diagnostic methods, and neurotherapeutic intervention strategies in brain injury research. It discusses neurotrauma mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and neurocognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Also included are medical interventions and recent neurotherapeutics used in the area of brain injury that have been translated to the area of rehabilitation research. In addition, a section is devoted to models of milder CNS injury, including sports injuries.
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides disability compensation to veterans with a service-connected injury, and to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran must submit a claim or have a claim submitted on his or her behalf. Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans reviews the process by which the VA assesses impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury for purposes of awarding disability compensation. This report also provides recommendations for legislative or administrative action for improving the adjudication of veterans' claims seeking entitlement to compensation for all impairments arising from a traumatic brain injury.
A comprehensive guide for improving memory, focus, and quality of life in the aftermath of a concussion. Often presenting itself after a head trauma, concussion— or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)— can cause chronic migraines, depression, memory, and sleep problems that can last for years, referred to as post concussion syndrome (PCS). Neuropsychologist and concussion survivor Dr. Diane Roberts Stoler is the authority on all aspects of the recovery process. Coping with Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is a lifeline for patients, parents, and other caregivers.
In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme
This book provides a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of both primary headaches – migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cluster headache – and the very important and frequent type of secondary headache, medication overuse headache (MOH). After an introductory chapter describing relevant neuroanatomy and vascular anatomy, the evidence gained from animal models regarding the pathophysiology of migraine and the other primary headaches is reviewed. Knowledge of the genetic component in the different types of headache is then examined with reference to recent evidence, for example regarding the implication of the trigeminovascular system and cortical spreading depression in migraine. Detailed information is provided on insights into primary headaches from imaging studies, including functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography and on their neurophysiology and biochemistry. A further series of important chapters describe present knowledge of the pathophysiology of each specific type of headache and consider future directions. Written by acknowledged experts in their fields from Europe and the United States, clinicians and students will find Pathophysiology of Headaches to be an excellent source of up-to-date information on why patients experience headaches. In addition, it will be of value for pain researchers investigating the underlying mechanisms of headache.
A physician with thirty-five years of experience treating people with brain injuries shares the latest research on concussions and best practices for care. The explosion of attention to sports concussions has many of us thinking about the addled brains of our football and hockey heroes. But concussions happen to everyone, not just elite athletes. Children fall from high chairs, drivers and cyclists get into accidents, and workers encounter unexpected obstacles on the job. Concussions are prevalent, occurring even during everyday activities. In fact, in less time than it takes to read this sentence, three Americans will experience a concussion. The global statistics are no less staggering. Shaken Brain offers expert advice and urgently needed answers. Elizabeth Sandel, MD, is a board-certified physician who has spent more than three decades treating patients with traumatic brain injuries, training clinicians, and conducting research. Here she explains the scientific evidence for what happens to the brain and body after a concussion. And she shares stories from a diverse group of patients, educating readers on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Few people understand that what they do in the aftermath of their injury will make a dramatic difference to their future well-being; patient experiences testify to the best practices for concussion sufferers and their caregivers. Dr. Sandel also shows how to evaluate risks before participating in activities and how to use proven safety strategies to mitigate these risks. Today concussions aren’t just injuries—they’re big news. And, like anything in the news, they’re the subject of much misinformation. Shaken Brain is the resource patients and their families, friends, and caregivers need to understand how concussions occur, what to expect from healthcare providers, and what the long-term consequences may be.
Mild traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI or Concussion) is an increasingly common public health issue in sports, military environments, and life in today's active world. Despite a great deal of study and public attention to this disorder, knowledge about optimal diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment information remains lacking. Neurosensory symptoms have been shown to be the most frequent complications of mTBI in both the acute and chronic setting. Neurosensory Disorders in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury brings together both the basic science work as well as the clinical work in mTBI into one volume to provide a comprehensive examination of the neurosensory issues associated with this disorder. Coverage includes chapters on defining mild Traumatic Brain Injury, neurosensory consequences, neurosensory disorders in clinical practice, and diagnosis and treatment for neurosensory disorders in mTBI. This book is written for clinicians, researchers, residents and students in neurology and neuroscience. - Provides a comprehensive examination of the neurosensory issues associated with mild Traumatic Brain Injury and concussion - Brings together both the basic science work and the clinical work in mTBI into a single volume - Helps clinicians understand the best diagnosis and treatment paths and puts current research into perspective for researchers
HIGHLY COMMENDED for the British Medical Awards book prize for Popular Medicine Up to 10% of people will suffer a mild head injury (or 'mild traumatic brain injury') in their lifetime and up to 50% of those people will also find they have lingering post-concussion symptoms in the months or years afterwards. These symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance, reduced day-to-day memory, poor concentration, taking longer to think, 'muzzy' headedness, depression, anxiety, tinnitus, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light or noise, frustration, nausea, restlessness and sensitivity to alcohol. In such circumstances the 'mild' head injury may feel anything but mild. This is particularly so if large areas of your day to day life are affected. People in these circumstances can have their difficulties compounded by the very different explanations for their persisting difficulties. These usually involve receiving contradictory opinions about the extent to which ongoing symptoms are caused by neurological brain injury or other factors. These complicating factors can make it very difficult to find the right kind of service or expertise after a TBI. Patients can easily feel like they are being ''pushed from pillar to post" when trying to find services that can help with their problems. On top of all of this, there is a distinct lack of good, science- based information for patients about the best ways to manage PCS. It is therefore very common for those who experience prolonged difficulties to find their situation extremely confusing, frustrating and stressful. Dr Nigel King is an expert with much experience in this area, and has written a very valuable book weaving together the most useful knowledge in this area. It clarifies some of the complex issues for those who suffer with prolonged problems and provides practical, science-based self-help guidance for managing TBI difficulties. Using cognitive rehabilitation techniques and CBT approaches for the associated mental health complications of PCS, this much need book provides help, hope and understanding for what can be a highly disabling and misunderstood condition.
