Social adjustment and interaction after severe head injury: II. Rationale and bases for intervention

Abstract

Social anxiety, social performance and self-esteem are suggested to be important factors in the social adjustment of severely head-injured patients. The present study attempted to remediate some of these deficits in social interaction and adjustment by adopting theoretical models of the development of self-understanding, and of the general process of recovery from head injury, together with the application of existing methodology from social skills training. Reassessment after one year of group treatment did not show any statistically significant results, but some important individual changes in social performance and social anxiety were found. Reasons for the apparent failure to change are discussed, with recommendations for more intensive treatment and refinement of measures.