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Brain Injury Diagnosis & Treatment
How are traumatic brain injuries diagnosed, and what treatment is recommended for concussions and other brain injuries?
AMA Hub offers Concussion CME
The AMA Ed Hub has posted the CME program produced by Dr. Sandel and Concussion Alliance.
Is There a Connection Between Mild TBI and Mental Health Disorders in Adults and Children?
In a recent study, researchers at Kaiser Permanente found that risks for affective and behavioral disorders were significantly higher in the years post-injury for children and adolescents with a history of mTBI—especially for 10- to 13-year-olds. They emphasize the importance of regular interval screening for affective and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents who sustain a mild TBI. This post includes a slide presentation and Q & A with two of the researchers, Richard Delmonico, PhD, and Brian Theodore, PhD.
Concussion Alliance Co-Founders Interviewed for Slate Article
More and more journalists are writing about concussion, in many cases because they have had a concussion themselves or have friends or relatives who have experienced one. In March, 2024, Isobel Whitcomb interviewed Concussion Alliance co-founders Conor Gormally and Malayka Gormally for an article in Slate. It is concerning that bad medical advice (“just rest”) is still being given to concussion patients as is clear in Whitcomb’s story.
Concussion Care Highlighted in The Atlantic and Bloomberg News
I collaborated recently with Conor Gormally of Concussion Alliance to advocate for individualized and comprehensive concussion care in mainstream news stories with journalists who recounted personal stories of concussion. Here’s what The Atlantic and Bloomberg published.
The 6th International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport–What’s New?
The Statement summarizes scientific research and provides some updated recommendations for athletes at risk for concussions. But, it’s been mired in controversy regarding the strict criteria governing which research was included. Read Dr. Sandel’s insights into the process and conclusions.
What Is Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy?
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) is an evidence-based approach to addressing multiple cognitive impairments caused by a traumatic brain injury. Restorative CRT strengthens cognitive abilities, and compensatory CRT provides strategies to reduce the impact of deficits.
Patient-Centered Concussion Care
Presenting to the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residents at the UC Davis School of Medicine sparked a lively exchange about patient-centered concussion care. Learn more about the challenges and possibilities for transforming concussion care.
Evaluating and Treating Headaches After Brain Injury
Headaches are extremely common after a traumatic brain injury, but there are various treatments that vary depending on the phenotype or cause.
Post-Traumatic Headaches: Not Just One Type or Treatment
Headaches must be evaluated with a comprehensive history and physical examination. There are many options for treatment, but diagnosis has to be the first step.
Check the Neck after a Brain Injury
Whiplash and cervical strain occurs when a person’s head and neck are forced back and forth, injuring soft tissues of the neck. They are common after brain injuries.
Three Alternative Treatment Modalities to Ease Brain Injury Associated Symptoms
Conventional treatments like medications may not help symptoms after a brain injury. Complementary or alternative treatments may help.
Brain Imaging after an Injury
CT and MRI scans are the most common imaging modalities to evaluate people with traumatic brain injury, but advanced imaging methods are more promising for diagnosis and prognosis. However, interpretations of findings can vary.
A Medical Student and Cyclist Tells His Concussion Story
Seth Fischer tells the story of a bicycle-car crash that resulted in his having headaches and other chronic symptoms from what was labeled a mild brain injury or concussion. This is the first of two interviews. In a subsequent interview, Dr. Fischer talks about his recovery, his chronic symptoms, and…
Workers with Concussions
Dr. Maureen Miner is a physiatrist and an expert in brain injury medicine. She discusses her approach to patients with concussion and more severe brain injuries who need specialty care and referral to other specialists for evaluation and treatment.
Discussion with Dr. Ernie Bryant
Dr. Ernie Bryant is a neuropsychologist with decades of experience treating people with brain injuries of all severities, including concussion. What is a neuropsychological evaluation? Dr. Bryant presents a case of a worker whose neuropsychological examination was complex as is often the case with brain injuries, especially concussions.
Veterans Can Face Both a Brain Injury and PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can co-occur with a brain injury in military and civilian populations. Screening tests for PTSD should be used for any patient with a brain injury or suspected concussion. Symptoms for these two conditions can overlap, but all symptoms require management regardless of cause.
Cognitive Deficits In Veterans After Brain Injury
Cognitive deficits experienced by military personnel and others can be successfully treated with cognitive therapies.
The Emotional Consequences of Brain Injuries in Military Personnel
Military servicemen and servicewomen need early neurologic and psychiatric evaluations and comprehensive treatment after a traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Elizabeth Sandel: Former AAPM&R Executive Discusses Critical Elements of the Field
In part one, Dr. Sandel talks about physical medicine and rehabilitation and it’s broad scope. In part two, she discusses her mission to educate the public about brain injuries, including concussion. In part three, she discusses what happens to the brain with concussions and repeated concussions. She ends with a case of a patient with a complex diagnosis after a traumatic event that required the diagnosis in order for the best treatment approaches.
A Veteran Talks About his Brain Injuries and Care at the VA
A veteran talks about his experiences with several concussions, and his successful treatment with cognitive and group therapies at the Veterans Administration program in Martinez, California.
Modeling Brain Injury Care in the VA System
Dr. Anthony Chen is a neurologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Dr. Chen discusses the treatment of cognitive disorders that occur after these injuries, and the common co-occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions in people with a history of…
Causes of Brain Injury in Military and Veterans
Interview with physiatrist Dr. Hetal Lakhani and 38-year Army veteran, Richard Reyes, who sustained three brain injuries during his military career.
Military Blast Injuries Can Injure More than the Brain
Military blast injuries can impact the brain, the lungs, the heart, and other organs in the body. Early diagnosis is very important.
Parents and Sports-Related Concussions
Michelle Camicia, MSN, PhD, the mother of two student athletes, discusses the role of parents who must pay attention to their childrens’ symptoms if they play contact sports. Are these symptoms consistently understood by student athletes and coaches? She argues for more education and advocacy to address the problem of…
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