Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-115). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

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Computerized cognitive retraining is a technique for remediation of the cognitive and behavioral changes which follow a traumatic brain injury. The technique utilizes specifically developed computer software which builds on the basic foundations of intellectual functioning. While the injured patient is the target of treatment, the method appeared to have an impact on the patient's family as well. Families of patients who participated in computerized cognitive retraining initially appeared to have fewer difficulties with anxiety, depression, and family problems. They also appeared to be more involved in the patient's treatment than were similar families who had not had this experience.The experiment evaluated the secondary psychological effects of computerized cognitive retraining on the brain injured patient's primary caretaker in the family. The dependent variables studied were perception of family involvement in patient treatment, anxiety, depression and perception of family problems.Subjects were recruited from the outpatient case load of the Psychology Department of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee and from a local support group for families of patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. The injured patients and family members participated in the retraining technique. A total of seventeen patient/family member pairs participated in the study.Subjects participated in either the experimental or control treatments. The experimental group underwent five sessions of approximately one hour in length. The patient and family member worked together during the course of the retraining. Brief counseling followed each session. The treatment group used an Atari 800 computer and Bracy's "Foundations" cognitive retraining software package ( Psychological Software Services, Indianapolis, Indiana). The control group was a waiting list, minimum contact group, whose participation was limited to completion of the pre and posttest materials.Family members in both groups completed pre and posttesting packages. These included: a demographic questionnaire, the "Problem Solving Inventory" (Heppner, 1982a, 1982b), the "State/Trait Anxiety Inventory" (Speilberger, 1983), the "Beck Depression Inventory" (Beck, 1961), and the "Scale of Marriage Problems" (Swenson & Fiore, 1982).The experiment utilized Kerlinger's pretest-posttest control group design (Kerlinger, 1973). Patient/family pairs were randomly selected from the available subject pool. Control or experimental treatment groupings were assigned by stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed by the use of two way analysis of variance with repeated measures on one factor. Throughout the analysis, a level of R < .05 was required to infer statistical significance.The results of this experiment did not support the effectiveness of computerized cognitive retraining as a specific intervention method for the families of brain injured individuals. The findings revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the control and treatment groups on measures of perception of family involvement, depression, or perception of family problems. The treatment group experienced a statistically significant increase in state anxiety following the experimental treatment. The validity, generalizability and implications for these findings were discussed in light of prior research.Recommendations for further research in the area of family response to computerized cognitive retraining include replication of the study with greater numbers of subjects and more sophisticated evaluation and treatment methodology. It is also suggested that future research address the patient's cognitive level, the utilization of varied retraining protocols specific to the patient's level of function, and premorbid psychosocial factors which may influence the process of cognitive remediation.

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Hawaii, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 199-213. / Photocopy. / xi, 213 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (MAppSc in Physiotherapy)--University of South Australia,1997

Thesis (MHlthSc(OccTh))--University of South Australia, 1999

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Australia, 1995.

Predominant theories regarding adjustment and adaptation from the 1960s to mid 1980 are examined. Medical literature relating to outcomes after traumatic brain injury is examined. The gloom in major texts is surprising. The lack of definition of the commonly used term ???long-term??? is discussed. The relative lack of research to guide advice about very long-term prognoses remains a major concern. There are a number of ways of defining reality. Some come from an observer???s view of a person???s life. Some come from the reports of a significant other in the life of the person with TBI. Others come from the words or writings of the person who sustained a serious TBI. Quantitative research excels at summarising data and reaching generalisations based on statistical projections. Qualitative research excels at telling the story from the person???s viewpoint, providing the rich descriptive detail that sets quantitative results into their human context. An opportunistic sample of people who suffered a very severe TBI in 1981 was traced and narratives of their experiences since their injury obtained, either written or converted to text from interview. The texts were analysed using a qualitative technique based on grounded theory. The results of the analysis, the fact that a variety of approaches were used by people to deal with their problems, possible reasons for negative prognoses, and the limitations of the study are highlighted. Possible reasons why negativity appears to pervade the thinking of some health professionals involved with people with TBI, and possible directions for the future in therapy and research are discussed.

Predominant theories regarding adjustment and adaptation from the 1960s to mid 1980 are examined. Medical literature relating to outcomes after traumatic brain injury is examined. The gloom in major texts is surprising. The lack of definition of the commonly used term ???long-term??? is discussed. The relative lack of research to guide advice about very long-term prognoses remains a major concern. There are a number of ways of defining reality. Some come from an observer???s view of a person???s life. Some come from the reports of a significant other in the life of the person with TBI. Others come from the words or writings of the person who sustained a serious TBI. Quantitative research excels at summarising data and reaching generalisations based on statistical projections. Qualitative research excels at telling the story from the person???s viewpoint, providing the rich descriptive detail that sets quantitative results into their human context. An opportunistic sample of people who suffered a very severe TBI in 1981 was traced and narratives of their experiences since their injury obtained, either written or converted to text from interview. The texts were analysed using a qualitative technique based on grounded theory. The results of the analysis, the fact that a variety of approaches were used by people to deal with their problems, possible reasons for negative prognoses, and the limitations of the study are highlighted. Possible reasons why negativity appears to pervade the thinking of some health professionals involved with people with TBI, and possible directions for the future in therapy and research are discussed.