System Malfunction! | The Role of Brain Injury in Behavioral Health, Recovery, and What to Do About It

Trainer: Daniel Overton, WDVA

Dates & Times of Occurrence

CEUs Available: One (Free)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

1.Identify potential ways brain injury contributes to common Behavioral health presenting problems, diagnoses’ and examine the prevalence of brain injury in the veteran population.

2. Describe the process of brain injury and how it effects mood, behavior and cognition.

3. Understand how to effectively recognize/assess brain injured clients.

4. Distinguish common symptoms related to brain injury.

5. Identify at least 3 intervention techniques specifically addressing brain injury.

Goal of the Presentation

To examine the ways brain injury can contribute to problems and diagnoses’ typically seen in BH and provide possible intervention techniques and strategies and resources designed to assist behavioral health clients and those clinicians involved in their care/treatment.

To discuss ways to increase effectiveness of working with brain injured clients/veterans.

·      To compare and contrast intervention approaches and examine prevalence of brain injury in veterans

·      To provide participants with innovative procedures that will aid in:

·      Identifying the contributing factors brain injury has on behaviors that can contribute to presenting problems and diagnoses’.

·      Helping providers identify how brain injury may be impeding success and contributing to a lack of recovery.

·      Incorporating brain injury into assessment and treatment plans.

·      To introduce resources available.

Abstract

No less than 1 in 5 veterans returning from OEF/OIF have a diagnosed brain injury, many more report having multiple concussive episodes. Both can contribute significantly to behaviors/cognitions that can lead to a behavioral health diagnosis and/or the problem behavioral health client may present with. If not addressed or identified these problems will create difficulty with long term changes/recovery and contribute to a lack of recovery. In this presentation, the participant will be introduced to brain injury, its prevalence within the veteran community and how it can affect behavioral health. We will discuss ways a brain injury can contribute to a BH diagnosis and be provided with resources and tools to increase successful outcomes.