Anne-Lise Christensen - Böcker

This is a collection of essays by leading neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists to honor Alexander Romanovich Luria and to highlight the enduring impact of his legacy on cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology. A wide range of topics is covered, from functional neuroimaging in neuropsychology to bedside evaluation techniques. Several generations of neuropsychologists and cognitive neuroscientists are among contributors, including those who closely worked with Luria, their own students, and others influenced in their work by Luria's pioneering insight.

I am extraordinarily pleased to have been asked by Drs. Christensen and Uzzell to write the foreword for this handbook. This handbook is the result of the most recent of a series of con­ ferences held in Copenhagen, Denmark, at five-year intervals over the past 15 years, under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Anne-Lise Christensen, and under the sponsorship of the Egmont Foundation, which must be acknowledged as well for its constant support of this in­ ternational effort. The participants in these conferences are all internationally renowned clinicians and sci­ entists. These experts represent not only the area of neuropsychology, but disciplines ranging from fundamental neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, to medical and financial perspectives on neurological injury and recovery. The participants have, to a significant extent, remained re­ markably constant over this period, and this has allowed increasing intimacy among them both professionally and personally. One felicitous result of this camaraderie has been that the con­ ferences have evolved with an increased focus on topics of the broadest interest across disci­ plines. One aspect of such a continuing dialogue across disciplines is that specific areas of mutual interest are explored in depth, allowing cross-fertilization of ideas to occur.

Captures the stories behind the work of the clinicians and scholars who have contributed significantly to neuropsychology's development.

DAVID W. ELLIS AND ANNE-LISE CHRISTENSEN 1 A BRIEF OVERVIEW In the past, most people who sustained catastrophic brain injury died. However, over the past several decades, sophisticated medical diagnostic techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with advances in emergency trauma procedures and neurosurgical pro­ cedures (e. g., intracranial pressure monitoring), have dramatically increased the survival rates for people who have survived such trauma. At the same time, because of population growth, the number of victims of brain trauma (primarily automobile accidents) has also risen [1]. As a result of their injuries, many of these people have developed severe disabilities that affect their lives and the lives of everyone around them. For those who survive, and their families, mere survival is not enough. Attention must be paid to the quality of their lives after the traumatic event. During the past 15 years, there has been an increasing focus on the develop­ ment of treatment techniques for brain injuries. Although the principal focus of this text is on the neuropsychological (i. e., neurological and psychological) aspects of treatment-both theory and technique-the book is also directed towards the broad variety of issues that affect survivors, their families, health­ care professionals, and the social milieu.

Most individuals with brain damage experience a curtailment or loss of lifestyle without rehabilitation. Improved methods and appropriately timed medical interventions now make it possible for more individuals to survive brain insults and to be assisted by rehabilitation neuropsychologists in achieving renewed commitment to life. Damage to the brain -- the organ of human emotions and cognition -- reduces psychological functioning and realistic adaptation, and the patient and his/her family are often encapsulated in the time prior to injury. To regain part or most of the lifestyle lost, an honest, dedicated, and realistic approach is required. Neuropsychological rehabilitation can provide tools for this task, provided that the most comprehensive, elaborate and knowledge-based methods are integrated in the training, and provided that knowledge from many disciplines and from community environments and family is encompassed. In the present book knowledge representing the development of neuropsychological rehabilitation during the past five years is collected from a conference titled "Progress in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation." The chapters are written by professionals who were invited to share their experiences from different areas within the field because of their expertise with processes involved in neuropsychological rehabilitation. After a historical review, the chapters follow a visible sequence from biology to neuropsychology and neuropharmacology. Experts discuss the most advanced medical knowledge of the effect of injury on states of the organism. The second part of the book is dedicated to the outcome and the economics of rehabilitation as well as plans for the future. Finally, a panel discussion addresses the overall concept: Is rehabilitation worthwhile and ethical? The reactions -- influenced by the cross-cultural exchange of knowledge -- shed light on the essence and practice of today's neurorehabilitation.

Captures the stories behind the work of the clinicians and scholars who have contributed significantly to neuropsychology's development.

In early 1985 a grant from the Egmont Foundation made the establishment of the Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Damage in copenhagen possible. This meant the realization of a plan with which Anne-Lise Christensen had been occupied for years. Through her work in psychiatric and neurosurgical wards she had acquired a deep insight in the problems of the brain damage, and through visits to the leading centers within the field of brain damage rehabilitation she had become inti­ mately acquainted with the most modern trends in research and practice which was insufficiently devel­ oped in Denmark. When finally the possibility of establishing the center came closer, it was obvious that Anne-Lise Christensen would be the right person to organize this institution and to become its leader. Two years later, when the building-up of the Center had been finished and the work was running smoothly, it was felt natural to mark this accomplish­ ment by the arrangement of an international conference on rehabilitation of brain damage. On this occasion, a number of leading specialists gave lectures on many different aspects of the topic. This provided great incentives for those interested in the field in Den­ mark. The present volume, containing the lectures from the conference, can also be regarded as a tribute to Anne-Lise Christensen and her colleagues, in recogni­ tion of their accomplishments within the field of neuropsychology and rehabilitation of the brain dam­ aged.

I am extraordinarily pleased to have been asked by Drs. Christensen and Uzzell to write the foreword for this handbook. This handbook is the result of the most recent of a series of con­ ferences held in Copenhagen, Denmark, at five-year intervals over the past 15 years, under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Anne-Lise Christensen, and under the sponsorship of the Egmont Foundation, which must be acknowledged as well for its constant support of this in­ ternational effort. The participants in these conferences are all internationally renowned clinicians and sci­ entists. These experts represent not only the area of neuropsychology, but disciplines ranging from fundamental neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, to medical and financial perspectives on neurological injury and recovery. The participants have, to a significant extent, remained re­ markably constant over this period, and this has allowed increasing intimacy among them both professionally and personally. One felicitous result of this camaraderie has been that the con­ ferences have evolved with an increased focus on topics of the broadest interest across disci­ plines. One aspect of such a continuing dialogue across disciplines is that specific areas of mutual interest are explored in depth, allowing cross-fertilization of ideas to occur.

DAVID W. ELLIS AND ANNE-LISE CHRISTENSEN 1 A BRIEF OVERVIEW In the past, most people who sustained catastrophic brain injury died. However, over the past several decades, sophisticated medical diagnostic techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with advances in emergency trauma procedures and neurosurgical pro­ cedures (e. g., intracranial pressure monitoring), have dramatically increased the survival rates for people who have survived such trauma. At the same time, because of population growth, the number of victims of brain trauma (primarily automobile accidents) has also risen [1]. As a result of their injuries, many of these people have developed severe disabilities that affect their lives and the lives of everyone around them. For those who survive, and their families, mere survival is not enough. Attention must be paid to the quality of their lives after the traumatic event. During the past 15 years, there has been an increasing focus on the develop­ ment of treatment techniques for brain injuries. Although the principal focus of this text is on the neuropsychological (i. e., neurological and psychological) aspects of treatment-both theory and technique-the book is also directed towards the broad variety of issues that affect survivors, their families, health­ care professionals, and the social milieu.

In early 1985 a grant from the Egmont Foundation made the establishment of the Center for Rehabilitation of Brain Damage in copenhagen possible. This meant the realization of a plan with which Anne-Lise Christensen had been occupied for years. Through her work in psychiatric and neurosurgical wards she had acquired a deep insight in the problems of the brain damage, and through visits to the leading centers within the field of brain damage rehabilitation she had become inti­ mately acquainted with the most modern trends in research and practice which was insufficiently devel­ oped in Denmark. When finally the possibility of establishing the center came closer, it was obvious that Anne-Lise Christensen would be the right person to organize this institution and to become its leader. Two years later, when the building-up of the Center had been finished and the work was running smoothly, it was felt natural to mark this accomplish­ ment by the arrangement of an international conference on rehabilitation of brain damage. On this occasion, a number of leading specialists gave lectures on many different aspects of the topic. This provided great incentives for those interested in the field in Den­ mark. The present volume, containing the lectures from the conference, can also be regarded as a tribute to Anne-Lise Christensen and her colleagues, in recogni­ tion of their accomplishments within the field of neuropsychology and rehabilitation of the brain dam­ aged.