title: Clients' perspectives on problems many years after traumatic brain injury.
abstract: This study investigated the types of self-reported main problems that persons report many years following a traumatic brain injury. This preliminary study is part of a large ongoing study of disability and handicap in adults following traumatic brain injury. As part of an extensive interview, subjects were asked an open-ended question regarding their current main problems which they thought resulted from their traumatic brain injury. Responses were obtained from 166 adult subjects (119 men and 47 women) whose time postinjury ranged from 9 to 24 years. Categories for responses were subsequently developed. The most commonly reported categories of problems were those relating to movement (39%), cognition (36%), and sensory impairment (31%). Findings suggest that subjects' long-term concerns were related to specific impairments more than to psychosocial, emotional, or behavioral issues. Methodological issues concerning this research are discussed in relation to findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colantonio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ratcliff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012803:Sick Role