Developing a model of long-term social rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury: the case of the head forward centre

Social isolation after acquired brain injury: Exploring the relationship between network size, functional support, loneliness and mental health

“…We stress this point since loneliness has traditionally been targeted by informal rehabilitation -drop-in groups, or peer support groups. However, there is little research on this matter (see Salas et al, 2020). There is some evidence suggesting that enlarging the social network via group interventions can contribute to decreasing loneliness/social isolation (Northcott et al, 2016;Rowlands, 2002;Vickers, 2010;Wade, 2003).…”

“…Such interest appears to be related to the so called 'relational turn', an epistemological shift that understands brain injury as something that occurs, and acquires meaning, 'in the space' between people (Bowen et al, 2018), often compromising survivors, relatives and friends' capacity to connect and sustain intimacy (Yeates, 2013;Yeates & Salas, 2020). Brain injury rehabilitation professionals have also become increasingly interested in the effects that social interaction has on identity reconstruction (social identity theory), health and well-being, thus incorporating group membership and social identities as key therapeutic ingredients of rehabilitation models (e.g., Haslam et al, 2012Haslam et al, , 2018Salas et al, 2020). Research on social isolation after brain injury has presented, however, important conceptual and methodological challenges.…”

Rehabilitation of communication in people with traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of types of intervention and therapeutic ingredients (Rehabilitación de la comunicación en personas con traumatismo encefalocraneal: una revisión sistemática de tipos de intervención e ingredientes terapéuticos)

“…Thus, the expression of cognitive difficulties after a brain injury depends on the interaction of the damaged brain with other brains (Bowen et al, 2018). The relational turn has also impacted on the conceptualization of the rehabilitation of people with brain damage, expanding the focus of intervention beyond cognitive ‘restoration’, towards greater participation and social well-being, through the scaffolding of cognitive abilities and modification of the social environment (Bowen et al, 2018; Haslam et al, 2012; Salas et al, 2020; Takada et al, 2016). CCD is an example of this paradigm shift, insofar as it understands communicative difficulty to be the result of the interaction between limited cognitive resources and demands from the social context.…”

“…De la misma forma, la expresión de dificultades cognitivas luego de una lesión cerebral depende de la interacción del cerebro dañado con otros cerebros (Bowen et al, 2018). El giro relacional también ha impactado en la conceptualización de la rehabilitación de personas con lesión cerebral, ampliando el foco de intervención más allá de la ‘restauración’ cognitiva, hacia una mayor participación y bienestar social por medio del andamiaje de habilidades cognitivas y modificación del ambiente social (Bowen et al, 2018; Haslam et al, 2012; Salas et al, 2020; Takada et al, 2016). El TCC es un ejemplo de este cambio de paradigma, en cuanto entiende la dificultad comunicativa como el resultado de la interacción entre recursos cognitivos limitados y demandas del contexto social.…”

Neuropsychological rehabilitation in acquired brain injury: a question of identity? (Rehabilitación neuropsicológica en el daño cerebral adquirido: ¿una cuestión de identidad?)

“…Históricamente las intervenciones grupales, o de grupos de pares, han sido una valiosa herramienta para promover la conciencia de enfermedad y ajuste emocional, así como proveer apoyo, información y guía. Ya que estos grupos tienden a existir fuera de los circuitos ‘formales’ de rehabilitación, la evidencia respecto a su efectividad e ingredientes terapéuticos es limitada (Salas, Casassus et al, 2021). No obstante, los estudios disponibles sugieren que la participación en grupos de pares tiene un impacto positivo en la calidad de vida y salud mental.…”