Long Term Neurobehavioral Characteristics After Brain Injury: Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation

A sample of 97 unemployed persons with traumatic brain injury receiving rehabilitation services at an urban outpatient rehahilitation center were identified. Patienrs were divided into two groups based on lime elapsed since injury, 5-9 years and 10-35 years post-injury. Family members reported a high incidence of cognitive, motor, and emotional problems lingering well beyond the first few years postinjury. Rates of moderate and heavy drinking, psychiatric m:atment. and criminal behavior were identified. Transport:1Iion, cognitive, and physical problems were described as primary obstacles to employment. Analysis revealed few differences in the occurrence or cognitive, emotional and motor problems between follow-up samples, supporting contentions that disability is often permanent. Family members’ perceptions of injury-related obstacles to work were also strikingly similar. Recommendations arc made for individually tailored, holistic rehabilitation programs with long-term, proacrive follow-up.