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Personality change after severe head injury
1University of Glasgow, Department of Psychological Medicine, U.K.
Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Personality changes after severe head injury are common and evolve over time. These changes significantly impact patients and their families, often hindering return to work.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Personality change is a frequently reported outcome following head injury.
- Quantitative investigation into the natural history of these changes remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively summarize recent studies on personality change after severe head injury.
- To explore the nature, prediction, and consequences of these changes.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent quantitative studies on personality change post-severe head injury.
- Analysis of data concerning the timeline, characteristics, and influencing factors of personality alterations.
Main Results:
- Reports of personality change increase with time post-injury.
- Changes encompass affect, behavior, maturity, and responsibility.
- Injury severity, premorbid personality, and lifestyle are key predictors.
Conclusions:
- Severe personality changes following head injury have significant functional consequences.
- These changes place a substantial burden on families.
- Patients with severe personality changes have a low likelihood of returning to work.