3rd Edition

Traumatic Brain Injury Methods for Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychiatric Assessment,Third Edition

By Robert P. Granacher, Jr. Copyright 2015
    598 Pages 46 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Traumatic Brain Injury: Methods for Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychiatric Assessment, Third Edition provides physicians and psychologists with a scientifically based schema for the clinical evaluation of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

    The book assists physicians and psychologists in developing treatment plans for patients who have sustained TBIs and also guides those providing forensic analysis to lawyers, insurance bodies, workers’ compensation systems, triers of fact, and other stakeholders in the adjudication of victims of TBI.

    The procedures and recommendations in this book are grounded in highly referenced evidence-based science but also come from more than 5000 cases wherein the author and contributors have personally examined individuals who have sustained a TBI, or who claim to have sustained a TBI.

    This edition has been entirely rewritten. The style now follows a more traditional neuropsychiatric format than previous editions. Since the last edition, there has been increased awareness and scientific study regarding the effects of blast brain injury as a consequence of US military experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    There is also increased interest in the phenomenology of mild traumatic brain injury and, in particular, the forensic complications associated with evaluations of this disorder. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has also received significant scrutiny in the last decade, possibly associated with sports injuries.

    This book is a comprehensive resource for clinicians treating patients as well as for forensic specialists. Its purpose remains the same as in prior editions—to provide physicians or psychologists with a practical method for an effective evaluation of TBI based upon known scientific principles of brain-behavior relationships and state-of-the-art clinical, neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and psychological techniques.

    Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Introduction
    Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Definitions of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Classification of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Concussion
    Blunt Force Head Injury
    Penetrating Brain Injury
    Military or Blast Brain Trauma
    Sports Injuries
    Concussion in Sports
    Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
    Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
    Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury
    Molecular Biology and Pathophysiology of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Primary Diffuse Brain Injury
    Diffuse Axonal Injury
    Primary Focal Brain Injury
    Secondary Traumatic Brain Injury
    Genetics and Brain Trauma
    A Default Mode of Brain Function
    References

    Neuropsychiatric and Psychiatric Symptoms after Traumatic Brain Injury
    Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in Adults
    Adult Cognitive Disorders
    Frontal Brain Syndromes of Impaired Executive Function
    Attentional Impairment Following Pediatric TBI
    Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Syndromes
    Neuropsychiatric/Somatic Syndromes
    Psychiatric Syndromes
    References

    Taking the Neuropsychiatric History after Traumatic Brain Injury
    Introduction
    General Premorbid Neuropsychiatric History
    Birth and Perinatal History
    Developmental History
    Handedness Laterality and Motor Skills
    Seizures and "Spells"
    Substance Use and Abuse
    Premorbid Personality
    Preinjury Cognitive Status
    Aggressive Behaviors
    Specific Neuropsychiatric TBI History
    Attentional History after TBI
    Memory History after TBI
    Speech and Language History after TBI
    Visuospatial History after TBI
    Executive Function History after TBI
    Affect and Mood History after TBI
    Thought Processing History after TBI
    Suicidal Ideation after TBI
    Neurobehavioral Treatment History Following TBI
    Activities of Daily Living History after TBI
    Pre-TBI Medical History (Past Medical History)
    Family History
    Review of Systems after TBI
    Child Brain Injury History
    Preinjury Developmental History
    Family History
    Attentional History after TBI
    Communication History after TBI
    Memory History after TBI
    Visuospatial History after TBI
    Intellectual History after TBI
    Executive Function History after TBI
    Mood and Affective History after TBI
    Academic History after TBI
    Review of Records
    Adult or Child Record Review
    Child Record Review
    References

    Performing the Neuropsychiatric Mental Status and Neurological Examinations after Traumatic Brain Injury
    Adult Mental Status Examination
    Sensory Domain-Specific Recognition
    Praxis
    Mood and Affect
    Thought Processing
    Thought Content and Perception
    Insight and Self-Awareness
    Judgment and Decision-Making Capacity
    Risk to Self or Others
    Adult Neurological Examination after TBI
    Head and Neck Examination
    Cranial Nerve Examination
    Sensory Function Examination
    Motor Impairment Examination
    Motor Vehicle Driving after Traumatic Brain Injury
    Child Mental Status Examination
    Speech and Language
    Memory and Orientation
    Visuospatial and Constructional Ability
    Executive Function
    Affect and Mood
    Thought Processing, Content, and Perception
    Child Neurological Examination
    Appearance
    Cranial Nerve Examination
    Motor Examination
    Gait Examination
    Sensory Testing
    Coordination Testing
    References

    Use of Neuroimaging in the Neuropsychiatric Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Introduction
    Structural Imaging of Primary Brain Trauma
    Functional Imaging of Brain Trauma
    Positron Emission Tomography
    Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography after TBI
    Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy after TBI
    Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) after TBI
    Electroencephalography after TBI
    Nonaccidental Trauma (Child Abuse)
    Birth Trauma
    Extracranial Birth Trauma
    Skull Fractures in the Newborn
    Traumatic intracranial Hemorrhage in the Newborn
    References

    Standardized Neurocognitive Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Introduction
    Basic Concepts of Psychological Testing
    Adult Neurocognitive Assessment
    Comparison Standards for Deficit Measurement
    Measurement of Neuropsychological Deficits
    Deficit Measurement Paradigm
    Practice Effects of Repeated Neuropsychological and Psychological Testing
    Using Symptom Validity Tests (SVTs) and Performance Validity Tests (PVTs)
    Measuring Attention
    Measuring Memory
    Measuring Language and Communication Disorders Following TBI
    Aphasia
    Verbal Expression
    Verbal Comprehension
    Verbal Academic Skills
    Measuring Somatosensory and Motor Function
    Measurement of Visuospatial Processing and Constructional Tasks
    Measuring Executive Functions and Reasoning
    Measuring General Ability
    Measuring Pediatric Neurocognition after TBI
    Measuring Symptom Validity and Response Bias in Children
    Establishing a Preinjury Cognitive Baseline in Children
    Measuring Attention in Children
    Measuring Memory in Children
    Measuring Language in Children
    Measuring Visuoperceptual Ability in Children
    Measuring Sensory Motor Function in Children
    Measuring Executive Function in Children
    Measuring General Ability in Children
    Measuring Cognitive Injury in the Very Young Child
    References

    Behavioral Assessment Following Traumatic Brain Injury
    Introduction
    Adult Behavioral Measurements
    Child Behavioral Measurements
    References

    Neuropsychiatric Examination Database and Treatment Planning
    History
    Mental Status Examination
    Neurological Examination
    Brain Neuroimaging
    Neuropsychological Measures
    Psychological and Behavioral Measures
    Impact of Brain Injury on Caregivers
    Neuropsychiatric Treatment Planning Following TBI
    Neuropsychopharmacological Management of Cognitive and Executive Disorders Following TBI
    Neuropharmacologic Management of Behavioral Symptoms Following Traumatic Brain Injury
    Assisting the Family after TBI
    Neurobehavioral Analysis of Case Studies
    References

    Forensic Examinations of Traumatic Brain Injury: Distinctions from Examinations for Treatment
    Introduction
    Critical Differences between Treatment Examinations and Forensic Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury
    Legal Rules Governing the Admissibility of Scientific Evidence at Court Mandated Reporting
    Evaluating Civil Competence Following Traumatic Brain Injury
    Testamentary Capacity and Vulnerability to Undue Influence
    Contractual Capacity
    Personal Injury
    Disability
    Aphasia and Dysphasia
    Language Use Other than English
    Fitness-for-Duty
    Dangerousness and Risk of Violence
    Suicide Risk Assessment
    Competency to Stand Trial
    Criminal Responsibility and the Insanity Defense
    Health-Care Decision Making and Informed Consent
    Persistent Vegetative States
    Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
    Advance Directives
    References

    Causation, Damages, Impairments, Disability, Outcomes, and Forensics of TBI Examinations
    Introduction
    Causation
    Damages
    Determining Impairment Following TBI
    Disability Determination
    Adult Outcomes of TBI
    Child Outcomes In Traumatic Brain Injury
    Forensics of Inflicted Child TBI (Child Abuse)
    Forensics of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
    Forensics of Neuropsychiatric Neuroimaging in TBI
    Forensics of Structural Neuroimaging after TBI
    Forensics of Functional Neuroimaging after TBI inflicted Child TBI
    Forensics of TBI Symptom Validity Determination
    Basic Principles of Forensic Medical Report Writing
    References

    Neurobehavioral Analysis of Traumatic Brain Injury Forensic Data
    Introduction
    Analysis and Collection of Acute Injury Data Following TBI
    Police Record or Injury Report
    Police Investigative File
    Accident Scene Photographs
    First Responder or Ambulance Reports
    Emergency Department Records
    Hospital Record
    Rehabilitation Records
    Neuropsychology/Psychology Records
    Outpatient Treatment
    Analysis of the Forensic TBI Examination Database
    Using Collateral History Sources
    Preinjury Medical Records
    Academic and Employment Records
    Legal Records
    Military Records
    Causation Analysis
    Damages Analysis
    Neurobehavioral Analysis of Forensic Case Studies
    References

    Biography

    Robert P. Granacher Jr., MD, MBA, is a clinical professor of psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexignton. He also practices privately as a treating neuropsychiatrist and as a forensic neuropsychiatrist. Dr. Granacher obtained his MD from the University of Kentucky, Lexington. He later served as a resident and fellow at Harvard University and the Massachusetts General Hospital and other Harvard University teaching hospitals in Boston. He specializes in the neuropsychiatric treatment and evaluation of traumatic brain injury, perinatal birth injury, toxic brain injury, and other complex neurobehavioral disorders. Dr. Granacher is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American Neuropsychiatric Association.