ABSTRACT
The affective and emotional problems that occur as the result of a brain injury tend to be among the more common sequelae likely to affect interpersonal, family, and work relations. Affective disturbances, in some instances, may be even more debilitating than cognitive or physical changes.(1) The reasons that affective disturbances occur following brain injury are complex and may be a direct result of damage to the cortical systems involved with regulation of emotion, initiation of activities, self-awareness, and impulse control. Affective disturbances may also result from a host of other related variables such as adjustment to disability or grieving the losses that accompanied the brain injury.(2) Family and social adjustment issues resulting from changes in family dynamics, income, work, or the social isolation often experienced, may be the cause of or may interact with emotional or behavioral stressors resulting in affective disturbances.
