Report of the Consensus Development Conference on the Rehabilitation of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

Various paginations (approximately 550 pages). Minor wear noted. This conference was sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Medical Applications of Research, National Institutes of Health and had several additional Co-sponsors. The conference was held Oct. 26-28, 1998 in Bethesda, Maryland. The objective was to provide biomedical researchers and clinicians with information regarding and recommendations for effective rehabilitation measures for persons who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The conference involved a nonfederal, nonadvocate, 16-member panel representing the fields of neurology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, speech, hearing, occupational therapy, nursing, epidemiology, biostatistics, and the public. In addition, 31 experts presented data to the panel and a conference audience of 883 members of the public. The conclusions of the Consensus Development Conference were: Traumatic brain injury results principally from vehicular incidents, falls, acts of violence, and sports injuries and is more than twice as likely to occur in men as in women. The estimated incidence rate is 100 per 100000 persons, with 52000 annual deaths. The highest incidence is among persons aged 15 to 24 years and 75 years or older, with a less striking peak in incidence in children aged 5 years or younger. Since TBI may result in lifelong impairment of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning and prevalence is estimated at 2.5 million to 6.5 million individuals, TBI is a disorder of major public health significance. The focus of this conference was the evaluation of rehabilitative measures for the cognitive and behavioral consequences of TBI. Evidence supports the use of certain cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation strategies for individuals with TBI. This research needs to be replicated in larger, more definitive clinical trials.…