Head injuries--what happens to survivors

The head injury syndrome is a series of psychological characteristics observed in survivors of traumatic head injuries referred to a hospital-based rehabilitation centre. Severe cases of head injury syndrome are readily identifiable as cases of organic dementia. In less florid cases patients easily pass for normal in routine consultation situations, but upon expert psychometric assessment, elements of the head injury syndrome can be demonstrated. Such patients exhibit a high propensity to fail to live up to the normal expectations of their work and domestic environment, and suffer repeated failures and social difficulties which are the direct result of the head injury syndrome. This leads to breakdown of work and family life, increasing frustration, loss of confidence, and final disintegration of the affected personality.