Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: An Overview
Neuropsychological rehabilitation is a specialized approach to rehabilitation that aims to improve cognitive functions and emotional wellbeing for individuals who have sustained brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases. This approach is based on the principles of neuropsychology, which is a field of psychology that specializes in understanding the relationship between behavior and the brain. Neuropsychological rehabilitation typically involves the implementation of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral strategies to ameliorate impairments in the cognitive and emotional domains. This review provides an overview of neuropsychological rehabilitation, including its goals, interventions, research, and implications for practice.
Goals
The primary goal of neuropsychological rehabilitation is to facilitate the return of an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning to a pre-morbid level, if possible. This includes improving cognitive functions such as memory, attention, executive functioning, and language skills as well as improving emotional functioning, self-awareness, and social functioning. In some cases, neuropsychological rehabilitation may also involve improving the individual’s quality of life through the implementation of compensatory strategies and lifestyle changes.
Interventions
The interventions used in neuropsychological rehabilitation are tailored to the individual and their specific goals. Common interventions include cognitive training, reminiscence therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and problem-solving strategies. Cognitive training focuses on improving the individual’s cognitive functioning, such as memory, attention, and executive functioning, through the use of computer-based and paper-and-pencil exercises. Reminiscence therapy involves the use of reminiscing techniques to help individuals recall and connect with past memories and experiences. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and modifying dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Problem-solving strategies involve teaching individuals how to break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable components.
Research
The efficacy of neuropsychological rehabilitation has been evaluated in numerous studies. These studies suggest that neuropsychological rehabilitation can lead to improvements in cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. For example, a meta-analysis by O’Neill et al. (2017) found that neuropsychological rehabilitation was associated with significant improvements in cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Additionally, a systematic review by van der Werf et al. (2015) found that neuropsychological rehabilitation was associated with improvements in cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.
Implications for Practice
The findings from the research on neuropsychological rehabilitation suggest that this approach can be effective for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the evidence for neuropsychological rehabilitation and be able to provide this type of treatment to their clients. Additionally, it is important for clinicians to be aware of the potential risks associated with neuropsychological rehabilitation, such as the risk of over-exertion or exacerbation of symptoms.
Conclusion
Neuropsychological rehabilitation is a specialized approach to rehabilitation that aims to improve cognitive and emotional functioning for individuals who have sustained brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases. The interventions used in neuropsychological rehabilitation are tailored to the individual and their specific goals. Research suggests that neuropsychological rehabilitation can be effective for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, leading to improvements in cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Clinicians should be aware of the evidence for neuropsychological rehabilitation and be able to provide this type of treatment to their clients.
References
O’Neill, B., Anderson, J., Gonzalez, R. L., & Hart, T. (2017). The efficacy of neuropsychological rehabilitation: A meta-analysis. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 27(2), 144–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2016.1260385
van der Werf, S. P., de Vugt, M. E., Ponds, R. W. H. M., Jolles, J., & Verhey, F. R. J. (2015). Neuropsychological rehabilitation in neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review. Neuropsychology Review, 25(1), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-015-9267-2