An investigation of carers expectations of recovery and progress in their relatives with an acquired brain injury

Abstract

This thesis is comprised of a research component (Volume I) and five clinical practice reports (Volume II). Volume 1 consists of the research component in the form of two papers. The first paper in Volume I is a review of the literature, which examines the evidence for family involvement in acquired brain injury rehabilitation services and has been prepared for submission to Disability and Rehabilitation Journal. The second paper is an empirical study to investigate carers’ expectations of recovery and their engagement in the rehabilitation process with individuals with Acquired Brain Injury. This paper has been prepared for submission to Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (see Appendix 1 for submission guidelines). Volume II is comprised of five clinical practice reports that present work undertaken in the areas of adult mental health, older adults, child and Neurorehabilitation. The first report presents a cognitive and psychodynamic formulation of a man experiencing intrusive thoughts in an older adults mental health service. The second report describes a service evaluation to evaluate the outcome of the implementation of a recovery approach within an Older Adults Mental Health service. The third report presents a case study of cognitive-behaviour therapy with a 10 year- old girl with a fear of vomiting and anxiety. The fourth report is a single case experimental design to evaluate the use of compensatory strategies in a 35-year old man with unilateral spatial neglect as a result of acquired brain injury. An abstract for the fifth report presents a case study of a 26 year- old man with schizophrenia who experienced difficulties associated with persistent persecutory delusions. Cognitive-behavioural assessment, formulation and intervention with this client is presented.