ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the typical patterns of change that are reported in the acute and chronic phases of recovery. Personality changes after severe head injury produce considerable stress in family members and adversely affect the patient’s work performance and social relationships. Personality characteristics including low frustration tolerance, poor control of anger and hostility, and a tendency to engage in risk-taking behaviors have been described as more typical of individuals involved in traffic accidents. Personality changes can also reflect interplay of both the patient’s reactions to disability and the response of family members and friends. A number of affective changes have been observed after Closed Head Injury including hypomania, depression, and emotional blunting. A final category of change observed after head injury involves the patient’s perception of physical sensations and their expression. Typical somatic complaints include headaches, dizziness, hypersensitivity, and photophobia.
