Social Information Processing after Closed Head Injury
Objective:
Cognitive and behavioural impairments are common after TBI and can often lead to significant disruption to areas such as social functioning. A well-accepted theoretical model of social adjustment, the Social-Information Processing (SIP) model, allows an examination of cognitive processing during social interactions. The SIP model proposes that an individual proceeds through a series of tasks that begin with the mental representation of both internal and external cues and result in the enactment of goal-directed behaviours. SIP has been examined in various psychiatric and non-psychiatric populations. Thus far only one study has examined SIP in a TBI sample.
Method:
Adolescent males between 12-16 years with a history of TBI were administered a computer-based task, BRAIN QUEST, designed to assess certain stages of the model. BRAIN QUEST was administered in addition to measures that assessed levels of aggression and overall social functioning.
Results:
This paper will present preliminary data that indicate that adolescents with TBI display more reactively aggressive behaviours than normally developing adolescents and that these adolescents are impaired in numerous stages of the model.
Conclusions:
TBI often results in impairment in social information processing and an increase in aggressive behaviour. With a more accurate picture of the specific nature of cognitive impairment seen after a closed head injury, treatment plans can be tailored to address specific areas.