THE EXPERIENTIAL IMPACT OF HEAD-INJURY ON ADOLESCENTS - INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES ON LONG-TERM OUTCOME

Thirty-one young people, who were experiencing chronic sequelae of a h ead injury sustained at least 1 year previously, were interviewed in-d epth about the impact head injury had had on their lives. Their functi oning was also assessed using the Offer Self-image Questionnaire (OSIQ -R). The main theme raised by subjects was that they had not received adequate explanation of the emotional problems associated with head in jury and relevant support in coming to terms with their condition. Hea d injury had had a devastating effect on their lives, causing limitati ons in day-to-day activities, employment, education and relationships, and they scored significantly below norms on the OSIQ-R scale of self -confidence. However, these young people had a predominantly positive attitude towards life, which appeared to be related to their appreciat ion of how fortunate they had been to survive. They scored significant ly above norms on the OSIQ-R scale of Social Functioning. Markers of p oor functioning were identified and, in clinical practice, could be us ed as a method of highlighting those head-injured young people who pot entially are most in need of support. The findings have implications f or future research directions, service delivery and planning, in that particular weaknesses of current provision are demonstrated and recomm endations made for improvements.