PSYC FPX 3500 Assessment 3 Brain Injury Case Studies

Abstract 

Brain injury damages the brain cells and tissues, creating difficulty in the brain’s active functioning. Brain injuries’ physical and cognitive symptoms include dizziness, lack of consciousness, coordination and headache. Brain injuries like TBI lead to increased mental problems, including memory impairment. The TBI damages the brain’s functioning, leading to cognitive problems and learning issues. Kyle’s case facts will be evaluated in this article to analyze the symptoms leading toward the type of brain injury. The causes of brain injury will be supported by scholarly evidence and theoretical insights. Furthermore, the research methods will also be discussed, along with the effective treatment strategies for better health outcomes.

PSYC FPX 3500 Assessment 3 Brain Injury Case Studies 

Keywords: Brain Injury, TBI, cognitive learning, Memory Loss, Rehabilitation, Education and Awareness 

Summarization of Case Facts 

Brain injury damages the functioning of the brain cells and tissues and often occurs due to physical symptoms such as headache, vomiting, dizziness and difficulty speaking. Brain injuries have cognitive and behavioral symptoms such as loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes and memory problems. Brain injuries cause health consequences for the people suffering from them, such as memory loss. In the given case study, the case fact of Kyla is discussed to examine her brain injury symptoms and conditions (Mayo Clinic, 2019). 

The case fact of Kyla, who is a 16-year-old girl, is discussed in this analysis. She faced a road accident that damaged one side of her brain. After the accident, she vomited and felt dizzy and had a headache. The cognitive and behavioral symptoms showed her loss of consciousness regarding what she is doing, along with loss of coordination. The health symptoms indicated that Kyla had a brain injury that distributed the functioning of her cognitive system. Kyla experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which impacted her memory and created a lack of consciousness in responding to instructions and activities. TBI disturbs the brain’s functioning, and in most cases, it leads to death, disability and cognitive issues, including memory loss. In most cases, TBI occurs due to a violent blow on the body or head that impacts the brain tissues (Mayo Clinic, 2022). 

Psychology Theories for Human Learning and Cognition 

In psychology, different theories are widely used to understand human learning and cognition, including the idea of mind and Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT). Theory of Mind provides theoretical insight to understand the mental state of others with mental illnesses. The theory of mind focuses on human emotions, cognition and behaviors to explain mental conditions and provide practical treatment guidance (Girolamo et al., 2021). In the above-discussed case, the doctors could use the theoretical implications of the theory of mind to understand the behavior of Kyla to identify their brain injuries for effective treatment recommendations. 

Social Cognition theory is another effective psychology theory that aims to evaluate the behaviors and activities of individuals. This theory provides a significant guide to the healthcare professional to examine the patient’s behavior, emotions and cognitive symptoms to predict their mental condition for better treatment strategies (Allain et al., 2018). This theory provides a guide for the case of Kyla as her behavioral and cognitive actions guide the doctor to examine her brain injury and design her treatment plan for effective outcomes. 

Along with it, Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) provides effective guides to the healthcare professional to understand the behaviors of patients to examine their mental health for treatment strategies. In the present case facts, the doctors used CBT to analyze the behaviors of both patients to understand their mental suffering for the right treatment plan for their brain injuries (Silverberg & Mikolić, 2023). 

PSYC FPX 3500 Assessment 3 Brain Injury Case Studies 

Cognitive Problems or Memory Loss Due To Brain Injury 

Brain injuries impact the brain’s normal functioning and affect humans’ cognitive functioning. Brain injury reduces mental capabilities to speak, listen, and process information leading to adverse health consequences such as memory loss or impairment, cognitive disorders and mental health. Freitas et al. (2019) performed their research analysis on the brain injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their impact on the cognitive functioning of humans. The research analyzed the impact of TBI on the memory loss of the patient suffering from brain injuries, and the findings concluded that there is a significant relationship between both. The TBI reduces the cognitive abilities of patients suffering from brain injuries, leading to health consequences such as memory loss. 

Furthermore, Charkviani et al. (2019) analysed the impact of brain injuries, such as TBI, on the memory of patients suffering from this health condition. The results supported that TBI significantly impacted the patient’s cognitive abilities, leading to health consequences such as memory loss. Short-term memory loss and difficulty utilizing cognitive abilities are part and parcel of aphasia patients. Nunnerley et al. (2022) analysed the impact of brain injuries such as TBI on memory impairments in adults. The research analyzed that TBI impacts the patients’ cognitive abilities and leads to adverse consequences such as disability and memory impairments. 

Area of Uncertainty 

Brain injuries are significantly impacting the cognitive learning of patients; however, effective interdisciplinary care and rehabilitation treatment strategies improve health outcomes. This healthcare practice significantly guides the practitioners to improve the cognitive learning and behavior of patients suffering from TBI (NIH, 2022). In the US, many adults are suffering from TBI, which impacts their learning and cognitive functioning. However, the TBI consequences are becoming worst as only 13-25% of the patient gets proper interdisciplinary care and rehabilitation medication services, which increases the impact of this brain injury. Therefore, there is a need to improve the awareness of healthcare staff about proper care provision. Otherwise, TBI increases the risk of nerve damage, blood clots, stroke, coma, narrowing blood vessels and brain infections in the patients (NIH, 2022). 

Description of the Research Methods and their Appropriateness 

Brain injuries impact the memory of the patients suffering from them and create cognitive problems. In order to justify the assumption and the case facts, different research sources are used in the discussion. Charkviani et al. (2019) analyzed the impact of TBI on patients’ memory to highlight its implications for memory loss and cognitive problems. In order to conduct the analysis, the meta-analysis research sources were used to review the literature to analyze the impact of brain injuries on short-term memory impairments. This source is appropriate for this discussion as it significantly provides literature insight into brain injuries and their impact on memory for a better understanding of the issues discussed and effective treatment recommendations. 

Nunnerley et al. (2022) used qualitative research methods to analyse TBI’s impact on cognitive problems and effective treatment strategies to improve health outcomes. The research focused on rehabilitation treatment strategies with advanced technological measures for better learning and cognitive outcomes. This source is appropriate regarding the case mentioned above of Kyla, as she is also suffering from TBI, which impacts her cognitive abilities. This source significantly provides effective treatment stratifies such as rehabilitation and education of the patients suffering from TBI, which is helpful for doctors to design a treatment plan for Kyla. 

Freitas et al. (2019) used a cross-sectional research method to highlight the significant impact of brain injury on the memory loss of the patient suffering from it. The source used questionnaire techniques to record patients’ responses from brain injuries and their impact on cognitive difficulties and memory loss. This source is credible and reliable information on the impact of brain injuries on memory impartments with the patient’s experience suffering from it. The source provides appropriate knowledge to healthcare professionals, such as Kyla, on treatment strategies for brain injuries to improve their memory and cognitive learning. 

Research Sources for Possible Treatment Options 

Exner et al. (2021) described that brain Injuries significantly impacted the emotional and cognitive functioning of the patient suffering from them. The research provides effective recommendations in treatment strategies for the patients such as Kyla, who are suffering from brain injuries that may lead to cognitive problems such as memory loss. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is suggested as an effective and reliable treatment procedure that improves patient health through active involvement in activities that improve their cognitive abilities for better outcomes. Furthermore, the research highlighted that educational treatment strategies for patients suffering from memory issues due to brain injuries significantly improved their health outcomes Charkviani et al. (2019).  

Rehabilitation of patients suffering from TBI is a significant treatment measure to enhance treatment outcomes for the patient suffering from it. The rehabilitation strategies improved the patients’ awareness, education, and practical learning activities to improve their cognitive learning for better outcomes (Nunnerley et al., 2022). Improving cognitive abilities further reduces memory impairments among TBI patients, which is adequate for their health outcomes. This treatment strategy is effective for Kyla as she is 16 years old, and rehabilitation significantly improved her cognitive learning and personal development to reduce the adverse health outcomes of TBL. Moreover, this approach reduces her memory loss and improves her well-being (Nunnerley et al., 2022). 

Conclusion 

Brain injuries severely affect human health, specifically in the cognitive and learning domains. The case facts of Kyla are analyzed in the above discussion to provide an in-depth analysis of her brain injuries and impacts on cognition, such as memory loss. The case facts highlighted that the participants suffer from Traumatic brain injury, which leads to the cognitive problem of memory impairment. The credible and valid research sources indicated that significant relationship between brain injuries and memory loss. Furthermore, effective treatment recommendations such as CBT, education and rehabilitation activities are recommended for positive health outcomes for suffering patients. 

PSYC FPX 3500 Assessment 3 Brain Injury Case Studies 

References

Allain, P., Togher, L., & Azouvi, P. (2018). Social cognition and traumatic brain injury: Current knowledge. Brain Injury, 33(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2018.1533143 

Charkviani, M., Muradashvili, N., & Lominadze, D. (2019). Vascular and non-vascular contributors to memory reduction during traumatic brain injury. The European Journal of Neuroscience, 50(5), 2860–2876. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14390 

Exner, C., Doering, B. K., Conrad, N., Künemund, A., Zwick, S., Kühl, K., Nestler, S., & Rief, W. (2021). Integrated neuropsychological and cognitive behavioral therapy after acquired brain injury: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2021.1908902 

Freitas C, M. G., Faleiro, R. M., de Paula, J. J., Kummer, A., Caramelli, P., Teixeira, A. L., de Souza, L. C., & Miranda, A. S. (2019). Cognitive impairment following acute mild traumatic brain injury. Frontiers in Neurology, 10(198). https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00198 

Girolamo, M., Giromini, L., Bosi, J., Warmelink, L., La Scala, I., Loiacono, C., Miraglia, F., & Zennaro, A. (2021). The role played by the theory of mind and empathy in the feigning of psychopathology. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 21(4), 334–347. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2021.2007432 

Mayo Clinic. (2019). Traumatic brain injury – symptoms and causes. Mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557 

Medline (2019). Aphasia. Medlineplus.gov https://medlineplus.gov/aphasia.html 

Nunnerley, J., King, M., Hodge, K., Hopkins, P., Stockwell, R., Thorne, N., Snell, D., & Gozdzikowska, K. (2022). Co-design of a therapeutic virtual reality tool to increase awareness and self-management of cognitive fatigue after traumatic brain injury. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2021.2014993 

Silverberg, N. D., & Mikolić, A. (2023). Management of psychological complications following mild traumatic brain injury. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-023-01251-9