Self-awareness after acquired and traumatic brain injury

Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2006 Aug;16(4):397-414. doi: 10.1080/09602010500412830.

Abstract

Self-awareness deficits are common after acquired and (traumatic) brain injury (ABI), particularly in social behaviour, yet the underlying cognitive and neuroanatomical structures supporting social self-awareness are not fully understood. This paper reviews the current literature on prevalence, type and severity of self-awareness deficits in ABI. Neuropsychological and neuroanatomical models are reviewed and theoretical frameworks are examined. We summarise results of a case-control comparison of 20 ABI patients with and 20 ABI patients without behavioural disturbance. Our research found that lack of social self-awareness predicts behavioural disturbance in acquired and traumatic brain injury independent of cognitive and executive function. Theory of mind ability was related to self-awareness and a possible role for metacognition and affective processes in self-awareness is discussed to account for social self-awareness deficits.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness*
  • Behavior
  • Brain Injuries / classification
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Self-Assessment*
  • Social Behavior