A CROSS-CULTURAL-STUDY ON IMPAIRED SELF-AWARENESS IN JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH BRAIN-DYSFUNCTION

Japanese patients with brain dysfunction (21 with severe traumatic bra in injury [TBI], 21 with right, and 21 with left cerebral vascular acc idents [CVA]) were asked to make behavioral ratings regarding their co mpetencies in several areas, Relatives of patients and physical therap ists who treated them also rated each patient's behavioral competency. Japanese patients with TBI overestimated their behavioral competencie s compared with therapists' ratings, but not relatives' ratings. Japan ese patients with TBI overestimated self-care skills but not their abi lity to interact in socioemotional situations. Patients who had right and left CVA did not differ in their mean ratings of behavioral compet ency. Among all patient groups, there was no correlation between self- reported competencies and performance on a neuropsychological test. Fa mily ratings of patients' behavioral competencies correlated with the patients' neuropsychological test performance. Post hoc analyses of pa tients with TBI suggest that speed of finger tapping related to an imp aired self-awareness. Whereas cultural factors may influence self repo rts of behavioral competency, patients across cultures with brain dysf unction seem to have reduced insight into their actual level of neurop sychological functioning.