The term "higher brain dysfunction" is used to describe neurobehavioral disability or neuropsychological impairment in Japan. Patients with sphenoidal injury and diffuse axonal injury after traumatic brain injury manifest clinical and neuropsychological symptoms. Following closed head injury, patients exhibit a variety of symptoms. In this paper, the author describes neuropsychological dysfunctions/courses and neuropsychiatric syndromes in 7 representative cases who were characterized by: (1) attention deficit, (2) memory dysfunction, (3-a) perseveration, (3-b) dysexecutive syndrome, (4) disorders of drive and motivation, (5) emotional deficits, and (6) lack of ability to recognize the effects of his/her behavior. There are wide varieties of difficulties in assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for cognitive impairment and behavioral disability after traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychiatrists are expected to participate in this field in Japan.
Neurobehavioral Disability following Traumatic Brain Injury: 7 Cases that Exhibited Neuropsychological Impairments and Neuropsychiatric Syndromes
Department of Neuropsychiatry,Saitama Prefectural Rehabilitation Center
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
109: 199-214, 2007
<Keywords:higher brain dysfunction, neurobehavioral disability, neuropsychological impairment, traumatic brain injury, diffuse axonal injury>