Self-awareness after acquired and traumatic brain injury

Authors: Bach, Laura; David, Anthony

Source: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Volume 16, Number 4, 2006 , pp. 397-414(18)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Self-awareness deficits are common after acquired and (traumatic) brain injury (ABI), particularly in social behaviour, yet the underlying cognitive and neuroanatomical structures supporting social self-awareness are not fully understood. This paper reviews the current literature on prevalence, type and severity of self-awareness deficits in ABI. Neuropsychological and neuroanatomical models are reviewed and theoretical frameworks are examined. We summarise results of a case-control comparison of 20 ABI patients with and 20 ABI patients without behavioural disturbance. Our research found that lack of social self-awareness predicts behavioural disturbance in acquired and traumatic brain injury independent of cognitive and executive function. Theory of mind ability was related to self-awareness and a possible role for metacognition and affective processes in self-awareness is discussed to account for social self-awareness deficits.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09602010500412830

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Publication date: 2006-01-01

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