Date of Submission

2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Brad Rosenfield, PsyD

Second Advisor

Robert DiTomasso, PsyD

Third Advisor

Drew Nagele, PsyD, ABPP

Abstract

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a serious and potentially devastating health condition that can cause several lasting deleterious consequences affecting many domains of life. Difficulties are commonly reported in cognition, emotional, and social functioning, in addition to physical impairment. ABI disproportionally affects different groups, including the corrections population, which is five times more likely than the general population to have an ABI. However, there is limited research on the severity of neurocognitive impairment after an ABI for inmates in a correctional setting. It was hoped that the current study would help clarify the characteristics of ABI that result in different levels of neurocognitive impairment severity in this population, specifically mild, moderate, and severe dysfunction. In an exploratory design, this study employed a one-way analysis of variance to analyze archival data in a cross-sectional, between-groups design. It was hypothesized that those with more severe ABIs, those who experienced more ABIs, and those who obtained their first injury at a younger age would have more severe neurocognitive impairment. It was hoped that knowledge gained from the current study may guide and improve the efficiency of the assessment and treatment of offenders in the correctional setting so that providers may administer more specific ABI assessment and rehabilitation interventions for those with the most severe neurocognitive impairment in this underserved population.

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