Psychiatric treatment in severe brain injury: a case report

A patient with severe, penetrating brain injury is presented. The patient was in psychiatric treatment for four years, starting two months after the injury; psychological tests were administered four times. By most criteria, the patient recovered completely. The case confirmed earlier observations that intelligence measured by verbal subtests, recovers faster than that measured by performance subtests. The latter continued to improve during the two to four year period after injury. The case clearly indicates the emotional and psychological problems that arise in the presence of severe brain damage. These reactions may hamper rehabilitation, although the gross psychological disabilities caused by the brain injury have improved. It is suggested, therefore, that brain damaged patients should receive psychiatric treatment. Some of the problems of such psychotherapeutic treatment are briefly discussed.