Date of Submission

2009

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP

First Advisor

Christopher Royer, Psy.D., Chairperson

Second Advisor

Beth Arburn-Davis, Psy.D.

Third Advisor

Donald P. Masey, Psy.D.

Abstract

Acquired brain injury is considered to be one of the most important public health concerns in the United States, with approximately 1.2 million adults that meet the criteria for chronic brain disease, brain disorder, or injury each year. Medical costs directly related to injury, in addition to the indirect costs related to job loss, totaled an estimated 60 billion dollars in the year 2000. Subsequent impairment following brain injury yields a complicated neurobehavioral sequelae of deficits. Anosognosia, specifically, the deficit of the patient's inability to acknowledge, or even recognize impairments, is common following brain injury. In a review of the literature, this study examined the phenomenon of anosognosia, and its relationship to an individual's perception of control. Both the Perception of Control Across Domains Scale (PCADS) and the Neurological Impairment Scale (NIS) were utilized as a measure of self-report, and compared with the patient's test scores on standardized neuropsychological measures. Findings concluded that patients do not reliably report their symptoms. Although the study's findings revealed no significant correlations, implications for the field of psychology are still useful. The rising costs of healthcare have contributed to the problem of insurance companies attempting to eliminate the coverage for neuropsychological testing, in favor of conducting a clinical interview. These findings suggest that clinicians cannot rely solely on patient report to determine an accurate diagnosis.

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