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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
05:30
Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Evaluation and Management of Posttraumatic Cognitive Impairments
David B Arciniegas1, Kimberly L Frey, Jody Newman
1Neurobehavioral Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
Psychiatric Annals
|January 29, 2011
Summary
This review covers diagnosing and managing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues after traumatic brain injury (TBI). It emphasizes a staged approach to treatment, including pharmacologic and rehabilitative interventions for optimal recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Psychiatrists frequently manage cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disturbances following traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly in military and veteran populations.
- Cognitive impairments post-TBI significantly contribute to disability and cause suffering for individuals and their families across early and late recovery phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the differential diagnosis, evaluation, and management strategies for posttraumatic cognitive complaints.
- To emphasize pre-treatment evaluations and consider non-cognitive factors influencing cognitive problems and functional limitations after TBI.
Main Methods:
- Review of the literature on the course of recovery after TBI, conceptualized as posttraumatic encephalopathy.
- Integration of injury severity and time post-injury to guide the evaluation and treatment of cognitive impairments.
- Presentation of pharmacologic and rehabilitative interventions tailored to each stage of posttraumatic encephalopathy.
Main Results:
- Cognitive impairments are a significant sequela of TBI, impacting disability and quality of life.
- A structured approach, considering pre-injury factors and the progression of posttraumatic encephalopathy, is crucial for effective management.
- Interventions should be stage-specific to facilitate cognitive and functional recovery.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive evaluation, including non-cognitive contributors, is essential for managing post-TBI cognitive complaints.
- Treatment strategies should align with the distinct phases of posttraumatic encephalopathy to optimize patient outcomes.
- A multidisciplinary approach integrating pharmacologic and rehabilitative methods is recommended for TBI recovery.
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