POSTACUTE BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION

This review compares outcomes of adult postacute brain injury rehabili tation (PABIR) with natural recovery after brain injury. Potential out come predictors and the effectiveness of behavioral, cognitive, pharma cologic, and vocational interventions are also appraised. The importan ce of standardized outcome assessment is discussed in the context of o ther research considerations. Although generally uncontrolled, the stu dies reviewed document benefits for many individuals with brain injury , including increased independence and a rate of return to independent work or training that exceeds 50% and may reach 60% to 80% for intens ive comprehensive (holistic) day treatment programs. Available researc h is sufficiently encouraging to recommend more carefully controlled r andomized studies. Future research should emphasize the development of standardized measures of patient characteristics and outcomes, and ma tching of patient characteristics with optimal rehabilitation approach es. (C) 1996 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and t he American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.