Management and rehabilitation of persons with anosognosia and impaired self-awareness

7 important questions on Management and rehabilitation of persons with anosognosia and impaired self-awareness

Prigatano (2010) offers a simple model for classifying disturbances in self-awareness after brain disorders. Shortly describe the model.

The author describes two types of unawareness: anosognosia and impaired self-awareness (ISA). When the pt. has a complete unawareness of lost neurological or neuropsychological function it is called anosognosia. When pt. has impaired self-awareness, one speaks of a partial syndrome of unawareness. ISA can be divided by pt. with a non-defensive method of coping or pt. using a defensive method of coping, denial.

Give a definition of denial as coping mechanism and explain the consequence of ISA with denial for management of pt.

1. Psychological method of coping with a loss or threat of a loss that has personal significance to the individual
2. Psychiatric method as a defense against anxiety and emotionally painful experiences

When denial accompanies impaired self-awareness it can complicate management of the patient

      

How can pt. with ISA with and without denial be distinguished?

ISA become neutral when hearing news DD becomes irritated
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Describe the clinical guideline for pt. with impaired self-awareness

1. Determine severity unawareness

2. Determine non-defensive or defensive method of coping is present

3. Determine chronicity of anosognosia or ISA and likelihood of spontaneous recovery

4. Form working alliance with family

5. Develop individual neuropsychological rehabilitation plan that considers: how symptom picture is changing with time and treatment, preserved and disturbed neurological and neuropsychological functions, level of awareness for different functional capacities (for hierarchical treatment plan)

Give an example for a hierarchical treatment plan for pt. with  anosognosia for hemiplegia

Rehabilitation can involve utilizing their interest patterns in order to help demonstrate they have difficulties

Give an example for a hierarchical treatment plan for pt. with anosognosia for TBI

1. Goal of hierarchical treatment plan is helping individuals first become more aware of their level of arousal and degree of fatigue
2. Involved in cognitive retraining tasks helping them perceive awareness of neuropsychological capabilities and how it influences group interactions, feeling states and how to function within social business activities
3. Activities for improving perceptions of other persons psychological states

Give an example for a hierarchical treatment plan for pt. with anosognosia for dementia

1. Help them become aware of internal bodily sensation

2. Teach them how to control tension in body’s through motor or implicit memory skill

3. Memory activities

4. Route-finding tasks

5. Frontal lobe tasks

6. Personal and social awareness taking
 

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