A new systematic review has examined the impact of impaired self-awareness (ISA) on rehabilitation after acquired brain injury, finding that the ISA decreases engagement, motivation and treatment compliance.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain Injury, examined the results of seventeen previously published research articles on brain injury, rehabilitation (both inpatient and outpatient) and impaired self-awareness, also referred to as lack of insight.
ISA was found to decrease treatment compliance, motivation and engagement with rehabilitation due to ISA patient’s decreased value placed in rehabilitation. ISA also resulted in longer length of time spent in hospital, and affected both goal setting and behaviour. Four themes were therefore identified from the results: goal setting, treatment adherence, engagement and willingness to change, and time spent in hospital.
The authors conclude that ISA should be carefully considered within rehabilitation. Appropriate provisions and adaptions to increase self-awareness are discussed, and the four identified themes are suggested to be used to guide intervention.
To view the article, visit www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02699052.2024.2392161?src=exp-la#d1e144
Reference: Di Somma & Fleming (2024). A systematic literature review of the impact of impaired self-awareness on the process of rehabilitation in acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2024.2392161.
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