title: The psycho-social rehabilitation of patients with alcohol-related brain damage in the community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical presentation, course and psycho-social outcome of patients with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) referred from acute general hospital inpatient settings to a newly commissioned community team.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up study of a consecutive series of 41 patients subjected to a developing, phased rehabilitation programme in community settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed for an average of 25 months. Thirty-two patients were either abstinent or categorized as 'controlled drinkers' and were placed in appropriate community settings. Acute hospital admissions were reduced by 85%. The various domains of a neuropsychiatric assessment tool, the health of the nation outcome scale-acquired brain damage, improved with the exception of concomitant mental illness and self-directed harmful behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A community team with experience in working with younger people with cognitive impairment can provide a service for people with ARBD. Such a service is not dependent on pre-designated specialist institutions but relies on person-centred care planning, close follow-up and collaborative work with a variety of community agencies. A structured rehabilitation programme provides a framework for intervention.
authors.affiliation: Adult Cognitive Assessment Service, Stein Centre, St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead, UK. k.c.m.wilson@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halsey
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Keerthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020268:Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D016896:Treatment Outcome