title: Combining neuropsychological and cognitive-behavioral approaches for treating psychological sequelae of acquired brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acquired brain injury (ABI) does not only result in physical and cognitive impairments, but may also entail behavioral-emotional difficulties and mental disorders. Although neuropsychological approaches target the rehabilitation of cognitive deficits, the treatment of emotional and behavioral sequelae has received less consideration. This review argues for the integration of cognitive-behavioral approaches into the rehabilitation process and examines respective recent research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive-behavioral interventions have been investigated in the treatment of behavioral disturbances and mental disorders after ABI. They have also been targeted at supporting adaptive coping with chronic injury-related impairments. Problem-solving approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy may work as meta-models or framework for the rehabilitative process. Unfortunately, most studies reviewed employed methodologically weak designs, which limit convincing conclusions. Still, positive intervention effects have been demonstrated concerning specific outcome measures. Whether these changes also translate into increased psychosocial functioning or quality of life remains unclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methodologically sound evidence for cognitive-behavioral interventions after ABI is limited, but preliminary results support the effectiveness of these interventions in the treatment of behavioral disorders and emotional disturbances after ABI. Integrating neuropsychological and cognitive-behavioral approaches may therefore prove beneficial to the rehabilitation process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Exner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*