Brain Injury & Behavioral Dyscontrol: Impact of Emotional Issues

Course overview

Behavioral dyscontrol refers to manifestations of inappropriate conduct. It includes noncompliance/nonadherence, physical aggression, verbal aggression/threats, sexual inappropriateness, poor safety/judgment, elopement, wandering, making demands/being manipulative, hoarding, social withdrawal, self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation/behavior, somatic complaints, unawareness of deficits, hallucinations/delusions, etc. The emotional fallout of brain injury can trigger behavioral dyscontrol. Brain injury can generate particularly difficult coping challenges. Common challenges include grief, depression, catastrophic reaction, denial, nonadherence, paranoia, and PTSD. These emotional responses to brain injury can overwhelm coping resources and cause behavioral dyscontrol. The goal of this course is to explain the behavioral implications of these emotional variables after brain injury. This course is Part 2 of a four-part series of courses on behavioral dyscontrol following brain injury.