title: Theoretical Applications of Positive Psychology to Vocational Rehabilitation After Traumatic Brain Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) produces broad-reaching and often persistent challenges that impact an individual’s ability to engage in vocational productivity. Return to work (RTW) rates after TBI are markedly poor and the efficacy of current TBI vocational rehabilitation (VR) practices is unclear. Positive psychology, the practice of fostering positive emotions and traits, offers novel approaches that might enhance the effectiveness of existing TBI VR practices. This article assesses the potential relevance of positive psychology principles and practices to VR for clients recovering from TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted using the database resources of a large university hospital, including PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Content from this search was reviewed and synthesized, including literature on VR for TBI, vocational applications of positive psychology, and general rehabilitation applications of positive psychology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten guiding principles for positively-informed TBI VR are proposed. Specific positive psychology measures and interventions for improving emotional, social, and cognitive functioning are identified and discussed as they might be applied to TBI VR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Theoretically, positive psychology principles and practices appear to be well suited to improving VR outcomes for individuals with TBI. In addition to examining the feasibility of incorporating positive psychology techniques, future research should examine the impact of positive psychology interventions on RTW rates, job satisfaction, job stability, and other vocational outcomes. With additional investigation, positive psychology measures and interventions may prove to be a beneficial compliment to existing VR practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VCU Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980542, Richmond, VA, 23298-0542, USA. ana.mills@vcuhealth.org.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VCU Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980542, Richmond, VA, 23298-0542, USA.|Department of Neurological Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*; D062707:Return to Work; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Positive psychology; Return to work; Traumatic brain injury; Vocational rehabilitation