title: Ethical issues in using deception to facilitate rehabilitation for a patient with severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore ethical issues in using deception to improve participation in a patient with severe traumatic brain injury who had not responded to traditional behavioral and pharmacologic approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A male in inpatient neurorehabilitation with history of severe traumatic brain injury and significant behavioral disruption that limited his therapy participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Behavior modification program using principles of operant conditioning that required deception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation in therapies significantly improved and disruptive behaviors decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When used cautiously and with careful consideration of the ethical implications, deception may be permissible as part of an intervention strategy with this population but only as a last resort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthes
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caples