Barbara P. Uzzell - Böcker

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.

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.

Emotions, behaviors, thoughts, creations, planning, daily physical activities, and routines are programmed within our brains. To acquire these capacities, the brain takes time to fully develop--a process that may take the first 20 years of life. Disruptions of the brain involving neurons, axons, dendrites, synapses, neurotransmitters or brain infrastructure produce profound changes in development and functions of the one organ that makes us unique. To understand the functions and development of the brain is difficult enough, but to reverse the consequences of trauma and repair the damage is even more challenging. To meet this challenge and increase understanding, a host of disciplines working and communicating together are required. The International Association for the Study of Traumatic Brain Injury tried to correct this limitation during its meetings of international clinicians, researchers, and scientists from many fields. It was felt that many of the outstanding thoughts and ideas from the participants' most recent meeting and from others working in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be shared. This book was conceived not as proceedings of the conference, but as a collection of knowledge for those working in the acute and chronic recovery aspects of head injury. This book reflects the importance of the team approach to patients with TBI. The chapter authors come from a diverse array of disciplines--basic science, neurosurgery, neurology, radiology, psychology, neuropsychology, and legal, consumer, and speech/language science. Their contributions provide the most current research and the latest ways of managing a variety of aspects of TBI.

Emotions, behaviors, thoughts, creations, planning, daily physical activities, and routines are programmed within our brains. To acquire these capacities, the brain takes time to fully develop--a process that may take the first 20 years of life. Disruptions of the brain involving neurons, axons, dendrites, synapses, neurotransmitters or brain infrastructure produce profound changes in development and functions of the one organ that makes us unique. To understand the functions and development of the brain is difficult enough, but to reverse the consequences of trauma and repair the damage is even more challenging. To meet this challenge and increase understanding, a host of disciplines working and communicating together are required. The International Association for the Study of Traumatic Brain Injury tried to correct this limitation during its meetings of international clinicians, researchers, and scientists from many fields. It was felt that many of the outstanding thoughts and ideas from the participants' most recent meeting and from others working in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be shared. This book was conceived not as proceedings of the conference, but as a collection of knowledge for those working in the acute and chronic recovery aspects of head injury. This book reflects the importance of the team approach to patients with TBI. The chapter authors come from a diverse array of disciplines--basic science, neurosurgery, neurology, radiology, psychology, neuropsychology, and legal, consumer, and speech/language science. Their contributions provide the most current research and the latest ways of managing a variety of aspects of TBI.

The role of culture is significant when measuring cognitive abilities during neuropsychological assessments. However, cultural diversity is a frequently overlooked moderating variable. The International Handbook of Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology emphasizes major distinctions among cultural groups in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to heighten awareness of nuances, as well as culturally-influenced differences and similarities. The goal of this important handbook is to view assessments and rehabilitation from different perspectives, thereby offering opportunities for increasing knowledge and understanding, while improving clinical skills and laying the groundwork for establishing international and cross-culture collaborations. Clinical judgment can be colored by previous experiences from different cultures, expectancy rates of pathology among certain groups, and differences in socioeconomic levels. As clinical experiences increase with people from different cultures, the limitations of neuropsychological tools to make accurate assessments become evident. It is through gaining knowledge about the values of a different culture that neuropsychologists can develop a cross-cultural understanding.Professionals in areas such as neuropsychology, cross-cultural psychology, and social psychology, to name a few, will find the material in this volume to be a stimulating addition to existing literature.

The role of culture is significant when measuring cognitive abilities during neuropsychological assessments. However, cultural diversity is a frequently overlooked moderating variable. The International Handbook of Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology emphasizes major distinctions among cultural groups in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to heighten awareness of nuances, as well as culturally-influenced differences and similarities. The goal of this important handbook is to view assessments and rehabilitation from different perspectives, thereby offering opportunities for increasing knowledge and understanding, while improving clinical skills and laying the groundwork for establishing international and cross-culture collaborations. Clinical judgment can be colored by previous experiences from different cultures, expectancy rates of pathology among certain groups, and differences in socioeconomic levels. As clinical experiences increase with people from different cultures, the limitations of neuropsychological tools to make accurate assessments become evident. It is through gaining knowledge about the values of a different culture that neuropsychologists can develop a cross-cultural understanding.Professionals in areas such as neuropsychology, cross-cultural psychology, and social psychology, to name a few, will find the material in this volume to be a stimulating addition to existing literature.

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.

Neuropsychology has been concerned with brain-behavior relationships. Clinical neuropsychology has been concerned with application of relation­ ships to clinical problems. As interest in these topics continues, a spin-off from clinical neuropsychology has been the realization ofthe potential ofde­ lineations of behavioral consequences of cerebral lesions for developing and evaluating restoration and compensation objectives. Methods for these proce­ dures are scattered in books, journal articles, or else unwritten, and only in the minds of clinicians. Questions need to be addressed regarding the kinds ofassessment selections required; the types ofrehabilitation planning; the in­ fluences ofthe environment, communication, and personality; and the means of effectively evaluating rehabilitation procedures. A useful book is needed by clinicians working in this area. The purpose of this book is to consolidate, in one volume, current work­ able approaches ofa subdiscipline within neuropsychology and related areas which we are calling Intervention. Problems, dilemmas, solutions, and choices are presented to the reader beginning to work in this fascinating area, and to those of us already enthralled by previous developments and outcomes. Workers with expertise in assessment for intervention and interventiop strategies are chapter contributors who unravel issues, provide available em­ pirically based theory, illustrative data, and case reports. The volume begins with a chapter that emphasizes an awareness of the potential usefulness ofpathophysiology, and the recognition of spontaneous xv xvi recovery in relationship to intervention. Part II of the book is devoted to identifying and developing assessment techniques relevant for intervention.