HIPSIG: A Basis for Social Adjustment after Head Injury

Abstract

Psychosocial adjustment is a major factor in morbidity from severe head injury, but there have been no reported attempts to remedy problems within this area. Detailed examination of 11 severely head-injured patients attending an occupational therapy day centre suggests that high social anxiety, poor social performance and low self-esteem are important contributory factors to the poor overall social adjustment. Using existing methods from social skills training, the authors tried to remedy those specific problem areas in social interaction. The group results after one year were not statistically significant, but the authors suggest that their approach may be a useful starting point from which occupational therapists can develop similar, more effective rehabilitative programmes.