Behaviour Management after Traumatic Brain Injury What is it? Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain from an external force such as a sudden violent blow or jolt to the head. Patients’ behaviour may change after TBI and this can cause difficulties for those caring for the patient. It is important to recognise and manage the behavioral problems as they may interfere with recovery. What type of behaviour problems happen with TBI? Behaviour problems are common in people with TBI especially if the front or side portions of the brain (frontal and temporal lobes) are injured. People with TBI can be: • Frustrated easily • Aggressive • Yelling and cursing • Overly suspicious • Forgetful or easily confused • Acting impulsively – doing things without thinking of the consequences
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Losing socially appropriate inhibitions such as removing clothes in public Getting agitated or irritated easily by noise, light, smell or taste Getting stuck on a certain thought, idea or movement Replacing gaps in memory with false information that the patient believes to be true Holding a false and sometimes paranoid belief about what happened
It is important to remember that TBI patients do not behave this way on purpose. Damage to the brain causes these behavioural changes.