Brain Injury & Behavioral Dyscontrol: Impact of Cognitive Deficits

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Behavioral dyscontrol refers to manifestations of inappropriate conduct. It includes noncompliance/nonadherence, physical aggression, verbal aggression/threats, sexual inappropriateness, poor safety/judgment, elopement, wandering, making demands/being manipulative, hoarding, social withdrawal, self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation/behavior, somatic complaints, unawareness of deficits, hallucinations/delusions, etc.

Cognitive deficits often underlie behavioral dyscontrol after brain injury. Knowledge of cognitive deficits after brain injury is essential for successful treatment. Such knowledge entails understanding cognitive variables and their behavioral implications, how to assess cognitive functions, and deficits likely to be problematic based on key brain regions. The goal of this course is to describe cognitive functions, their assessment, and the patterns of dyscontrol stemming from common regions of brain injury. This course is Part 1 of a four-part series of courses on behavioral dyscontrol following brain injury.

As with all courses in this series, the material presented is applicable to all disciplines, including Nursing staff (Nurses/Nursing Assistants/Personal Care Attendants), therapists (Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Recreational Therapists, Music Therapists, Art Therapists, Dieticians/Nutritionists, etc.), Psychologists/Rehabilitation Psychologists/Neuropsychologists, Counselors, Physicians, etc., because [1] behavioral dyscontrol can interfere with the provision of treatment by any discipline, [2] the information provided in these courses can be applied by all disciplines, and [3] the treatment of behavioral dyscontrol requires everyone on a team to participate. Moreover, the information and techniques described are applicable in diverse settings: hospitals (Acute Care Hospitals/Rehabilitation Hospitals/Long-Term Care Acute Hospitals—LTACHS, State Hospitals), nursing homes, group homes, assisted living sites, vocational programs, etc.

Meet your instructor

Robert Karol

Dr. Karol is President of a group private practice, Karol Neuropsychological Services & Consulting, in Minneapolis, that specializes in counseling for persons with brain injury and other disabilities, neuropsychological and rehabilitation evaluations, program development consultation for organizations, workshops & staff…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Brain Regions and the Behavioral Effect of Damage

Behavioral dyscontrol is often caused by injury to specific brain regions. Moreover, the type of behavior is frequently a function of the brain region injured. To treat behavior, it is essential to understand the effect of injury to different parts of the brain. This chapter will review behavioral symptoms most likely to be observed with injury to key parts of the brain. The goal of this chapter is to provide an understandable guide to the effect of brain injury locations on behavioral dyscontrol.

2. Cognitive Deficits and Behavioral Dyscontrol

Cognitive deficits often directly lead to behavioral dyscontrol. Such deficits determine how people process information and interactions. Misprocessing causes errors in how persons with brain injury conceptualize the world and drives behavior inconsistent with accepted norms. The goal of this chapter is to explain the behavioral implications of various cognitive deficits.

3. Cognitive Assessment

Because cognitive problems are such a determinant of behavioral dyscontrol, the assessment of cognition is essential for understanding behavior. The principles that underlie cognitive assessment are important to appreciate when implementing or applying cognitive data. The goal of this chapter is to provide insight into how to conceptualize and utilize cognitive assessment.

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