1. Psychological impact of traumatic brain injury
Dr. Michael Sorsdahl,
CD, PhD (Education), CCC, RCC, GCDFi
Psychological impact of traumatic brain injury

2. Fallout from traumatic brain injury
Injured
Cognitive deficits
Trauma symptoms (PTSD/PTSR/PTSI)
Transition issues
Family
Vicarious trauma
Compassion fatigue
Burnout
Community

3. The Reality of Trauma, Vicarious/Secondary Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout.

4. PTSD/PTSR/PTSI

5. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a set of diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5
Exposure to traumatic event
Existence of intrusive symptoms
Avoidance of traumatic triggers
Changes in mood or thoughts due to trauma
Reactions and arousal changes due to trauma
Is distressing, causing problems, and lasts more than a month

6. Symptoms are a normal reaction to an abnormal event
Post traumatic injury / post traumatic reaction / post traumatic injury
Even if criteria not met, exposure to traumatic events can be problematic
This is where Post traumatic stress injury and post traumatic stress reaction have been used
PTSD/ptsr/ptsi do not just occur to military members/veterans, these symptoms can occur to anyone
This includes experiences such as mv accidents, sexual assault, victims of violence
Symptoms are a normal reaction to an abnormal event

8. Vicarious Trauma

9. Vicarious/secondary trauma
Natural consequential behaviour through knowledge of a traumatizing event through helping
Results from exposure to traumatic material of another person and empathic caring, which creates cognitive, affective, and relational changes.
Similar symptoms to PTSD, and can be just as problematic to functioning

10. Compassion Fatigue

12. Result of a depletion of internal emotional resources
State of tension and preoccupation with traumatized persons due to events disclosed or through helping (empathy)
Deep physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion with emotional pain.
Result of a depletion of internal emotional resources
Symptoms:
Difficulty sleeping
Startle response
Obtrusive thoughts and images of trauma clients/people
Diminished capacity for intimacy, listening, communication, or sense of career purpose
Loss of confidence, ineffective self-soothing, lower functioning level, loss of hope, dread of working with some people.
Compassion fatigue

13. Burn Out

15. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment
Ultimately where perceived demands of the job (personal or professional) outweigh the resources to do it.
Burnout

16. Transition Issues Accepting the “new normal”
Resistance through wanting life to be as it was or different than it is
Negative coping strategies
Bing/overeating
Alcohol/drugs
Anger/frustrations
Isolation
Distracting
Giving up
Depression/anxiety

17. What helps? Increasing relational resources and support
Create protective factors to address needed self-care
Counselling/coaching
Community resources

18. Questions