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Biomedical subjects

M D Wesolowski

Publications and source records attributed to M D Wesolowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Is the social network analysis necessary in the rehabilitation of individuals with head injury?

A social network is a support system in which one can obtain assistance for simple daily needs and in emergency situations. A diminished social network can result in failure to integrate into normalized environments. The results of this investigation clearly showed that social networks among a group of 70 people who were traumatically brain injured had significantly fewer members than a control group of non-injured respondents. Additionally, the make-up of social networks was different. Specifically, respondents who were traumatically brain injured had social networks consisting mainly of family and staff members of the rehabilitation facility, while non-injured respondents had mostly friends or acquaintances, coworkers, and family members, in that order.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Improving orientation in head injured adults by repeated practice, multi-sensory input and peer participation.

The efficacy of using antecedent control procedures (practice, multi-sensory input and peer participation) in facilitating orientation to person, place and time with two survivors of traumatic brain injuries were tested in two studies. In the first investigation, a 23-year-old male was treated by presenting the orientation questions orally while being shown questions on written flashcards. Results suggest that correct responses to orientation questions only occurred when flashcards were coupled with oral questioning. The participant responded correctly to nearly 100% of all orientation questions within 2 weeks of initiating flashcards. In the second study, a 19-year-old male was asked to respond in writing to 20 orientation questions in a small group. The group had a leader and 4 TBI patients. Following this, group members who correctly answered the orientation questions, took turns reading orientation questions and providing the correct responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Teaching socially appropriate behavior to eliminate hoarding in a brain injured adult.

A brain injured male hoarded large quantities of unuseable items at every opportunity. The treatment consisted of two phases. First, he was taught to collect baseball cards. Second, after each meal, the client was provided with an apron and a glove and asked to pick up trash in the area and deposit the trash in an appropriate receptacle. If he hoarded, he was told not to pick up trash without his apron and glove and escorted to a quiet area for about 10 seconds. The procedure was successful in suppressing the behavior within 8 days.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A positive approach to the treatment of aggressive brain injured clients.

A broad spectrum behavior therapy approach was used to treat physical aggression in five brain injured clients. The approach employed high density reinforcement, reinforcer sampling, environmental control, selection of appropriate responses, inconvenience review, self-control training and self-monitoring. All five clients showed significant decreases in aggression immediately after the implementation of the program.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The use of a new relaxation method in a case of tension headache.

A tension headache sufferer was treated with a newly developed procedure called behavioral relaxation training that assumes relaxed postures. The client was a 21 yr old female who had a 15-yr chronicity of headaches. During treatment, headache activity was reduced to a near zero level. After the first week of behavioral relaxation training, a second week of that training was administered combined with EMG biofeedback, followed by one more week of behavioral relaxation training alone. The combination phase was employed to determine if the addition of biofeedback would produce a more relaxed state. There were no significant differences in terms of EMG levels of muscular activity. Results are discussed regarding alternative explanations of the results and future research proposals.

Adult↗
PubMed1974

Theft reversal: an overcorrection procedure for eliminating stealing by retarded persons.

To deal with the problem of stealing, an overcorrection procedure was designed in which the thief was required to give his victim an item identical to the stolen one in addition to returning the stolen item. This procedure was compared with the more commonly used simple correction procedure (restitution) in which the thief is required to return the stolen item. Under the simple correction procedure, an average of 20 thefts per day had been occurring among 34 retarded residents of an institution. The overcorrection procedure reduced the thefts by 50% on the first day, by 75% on the second day, and eliminated thefts by the fourth day, after which no further stealing occurred. The overcorrection procedure was a rapid and effective method of eliminating stealing, it provided special consideration for the victim, and it should be applicable to the nonretarded.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comprehensive head injury rehabilitation: an outcome evaluation.

Outcome data from 44 brain-injured clients discharged from a rehabilitation centre during 1 year were analysed. The outcome measures were employed or unemployed, and the independent living status of the client. The predictor variables were demographic, behavioural, psychological, and neuropsychological data for each client. Results revealed that nearly 70% of the adult clients were placed in a less restrictive setting, and over two-thirds were placed in productive employment. Follow-up reports, 3-12 months post-discharge, found that 59% of the adult clients continued to live in a less restrictive setting, and 50% maintained successful employment. Data on adolescents reveal that four out of five returned home to live with parents, and four out of five returned to public schools. Reasons for successful rehabilitation of brain-injured clients are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antecedent control in the treatment of brain-injured clients.

Three brain-injured clients failed to respond significantly to consequence management programmes designed to increase attendance, use of a cane, and to reduce unauthorized breaks. When antecedent stimulus control procedures were applied, attendance and use of a cane increased and unauthorized breaks decreased. The study shows that antecedent control may be the treatment of choice when treating brain-injured clients with memory loss.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparing motivational systems with two non-compliant head-injured adolescents.

Behavioural contracting, point systems and point systems plus response costs were compared to determine their effectiveness in increasing the attendance of two head-injured adolescents at class and therapy sessions. All of the motivational systems increased attendance, although the point system plus response cost seemed slightly more effective for one client.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Managing hypersexual disorders in brain-injured clients.

Three case studies involving hypersexuality in brain-injured clients are illustrated. Two cases involved the inappropriate touching of the opposite sex, and the third case involved exhibitionism. In one case of touching, feedback was used to decrease inappropriate touching. In the other case of touching, scheduled massage was used to shift stimulus control to an appropriate setting. In the case of exhibitionism, a combination of self-monitoring, private self-stimulation and dating-skills training were used to suppress the behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The rehabilitation of adolescents with traumatic brain injury: outcome and follow-up.

Outcome data from 17 brain-injured adolescents discharged from a rehabilitation centre during a 2-year period were analysed. The outcome measures were academic status and living environment. The descriptive variables were demographic, behavioural, psychological and neuropsychological data for each client. Before admission, 24% of the adolescents were living at home with their parents, 29% were in rehabilitation hospitals and 47% were in psychiatric settings. At discharge, 58% were living with their families, 23% were living in group homes, 12% were in supervised apartments and 5% were in an alternative rehabilitation centre. Academically, 53% were discharged into public schools, 23% were competitively employed and 23% attended special schools. Follow-up reports, dated 8-24 months post-discharge, found that 40% of the adolescents continued to live with their parents and 30% were in public schools. All of the adolescents were living and working or attending school in the community. Factors in the successful rehabilitation of brain-injured adolescents are discussed.

Achievement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving executive function disorders in brain-injured clients.

In 1983, Lezak described executive functioning as the ability to engage in independent, purposeful, self-directive and self-serving behaviour. Self initiation, problem-solving and self-monitoring or regulation of behaviour are important components of executive functioning. This paper presents the results of efforts to improve executive functioning in three areas: problem solving, self-initiation and self-regulation.

Activities of Daily Living↗