ABSTRACT
The relationship between psychoanalysis and neuropsychological rehabilitation has never been simple. Some from the field have even raised concerns as to whether psychoanalysis has any role and is even ‘compatible’, with the rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury. The neuropsychological rehabilitation of individuals with brain damage has been described as a complex task, requiring a broad ‘theoretical spectrum’. Neuroscience frames the idea by proposing that the brain is a ‘predictive machine’ that uses the past to prepare for the future. It seems clear that the influence of unconscious mental life remains a conceptual and cultural challenge for neuropsychological rehabilitation. A common limitation of brain injury services across the world is the lack of support beyond the first year of rehabilitation, despite the well-known fact that psychological needs last a lifetime. In this context, longer term provision of emotional and relationship support for survivors is needed to offset negative psychosocial outcomes.
