Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem in industrialized societies. Associations between TBI and neuropsychiatric disorders have been recognized for many years. Impulsive aggression is one of the most socially and vocationally disruptive consequences of these neuropsychiatric disorders (Tateno, 2003).
Aggressions can be broadly divided in to two types: Reactive/ Impulsive aggression (RA) refers to aggression that is impulsive, emotionally charged, affective and uncontrolled. It has its theoretical roots in the frustration-tolerance theory. It is most often observed in response to a perceived threatening stimulus and is frequently accompanied by negative affect, facial expressions described as hostile, temper tantrums, anger and a reported feeling of loss of self-control has been strongly associated with a range of adolescent physical and social factors such as peer rejection and lower social orientation , social skills problems starting fights, getting angry and physical abuse . On the other hand, Proactive aggression (PA) is pre-meditated, controlled or has the specific intent of harming another. While PA can have the same form as RA (i.e. overt physical aggression), its primary function is to dominate, steal, tease or coerce others. This notion of intentionality in is derived from social learning theory and is argued to be motivated by a desire for interpersonal dominance or an expectation that aggression is a suitable means of achieving some desired reward such as money or toys. It has been associated with a range of deviant adolescent behaviours such as criminality, bullying, delinquency, delinquency-related violence and externalizing problems later in life and affiliation with delinquent peers (Dooley et...
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... to conclude that, impulsive aggression after TBI is not a one-dimensional concept. Instead aggression can take several forms and challenges clinicians to consider the needs of patients from a more multidimensional perspective. Aggression following TBI is associated with multiple neurobiological and psychosocial and neuropsychological factors, including major depression, substance abuse, and impaired social function as well as the presence of brain injury involving the frontal lobe. The neurobiological organic and chemical complications caused by brain injury results in the neuropsychological mechanisms in the brain which results in dysfunction of different parts of the brain in controlling the overall emotional reactivity of an individual. This condition is reinforced by different pre-existing and co-existing behavioural and social conditions of the individual.
In 2000 an article was published in Science by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It showed a study conducted by Davidson on those who had previously committed violent crimes versus those who are considered for the most part, “normal.” The results showed distinct brain activity in the more violent offenders in the frontal lobe and limbic system. This leads us to conclude that those who are violent could potentiall...
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, previously referred to as dementia pugilistica, can be understood as a tauopathic, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease. While there is no neurobiological or neuropathological explanation as to why CTE occurs, the majority of researchers believe the disease is strongly related to previous head injuries. An individual suffering from CTE will most likely experience changes in their mood, behavior and cognition. Because this is a relatively new area of research, there are still a vast amount of unknowns pertaining to the disease’s symptoms, pathology, and natural course.
understanding of what goes on in the brain after an assault. It is normal for a victim to
Is there a biological basis for violent behavior in the brain? Recent research links "neurological impairments and psychoses" to violent behavior (1).
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide for which there is no cure. Many patients who survive from TBI may experience permanent cognitive loss, behavioral issues, and emotional disturbances, which require daily medical or social attentions.[1, 2] It is believed that over 2% US population is experiencing TBI-associated disabilities which create an annual burden evaluated at $60 billion on direct (medical service) and indirect (loss of productivity) costs.[3, 4] Traumatic brain injury is complex which consists of a mechanical trauma (primary injury) and a resulting biochemical cascade (secondary injury), and lead to a wide diversity of symptoms.[5]
The frontal lobe is located in the most anterior part of the brain hemispheres. It is considered responsible for much of the behavior that makes possible stable and adequate social relations. Self-control, planning, judgment, the balance of individual versus social needs, and many other essential functions underlying effective social intercourse are mediated by the frontal structures of the brain. (3) Antonio and Anna Damasio, two noted Portuguese neurologists and researchers working in the University of Iowa, have been investigating in the last decade the neurological basis of psychopathy.
Abnormalities in the brain can be discovered at a young age. Research in the UK by Graeme Fairchild, a lecturer in clinical psychology at Southampton University, has shown that adolescents with aggressive conduct disorders often had a shrunken amygdala - the
The IDEA for TBI is that an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychological impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child 's educational performance. (exceptional lives: special education in today
Damage to the prefrontal cortex is the damage to the frontal lobes. This sort of damage causes the inability to plan or behave in ways society says you should. When damage occurs in childhood, the individual who is affected may never have a real understanding or be able to grasp the concept of social norms. When you are older and the damage occurs later on in life, there is and understanding on how they should act, but they are just not capable of achieving normal behavior. Damage to the prefrontal cortex can also: suppress speech, lack empathy, antisocial behaviors, cause dishonesty, and difficulty with organization as well as impulse control. Researchers have linked that many of the worst criminals have damage to their prefrontal cortex,
People who suffer a traumatic brain injury have difficulty following a class schedule, being on time to class, submitting homework on time due to lack of remembering, forgetting to take medication. A person with TBI, depending on the severity of the injury, may struggle remembering information and events that has been introduced recently. Also, these people struggle more with short-term memory than their long-term memory, which indicates why people are usually able to recall what happened a long time ago. It is also possible for the person to only remember parts of an event and the person may put the memories together and create one of which they have filled in the gaps within the event with things that didn’t really happen but they remember happening due to the gap filling they are doing.
The case of Phineas Gage is a rather remarkable one. During the late 1800s, "doctors" didn't fully understand brain trauma so Mr. Gage's injury was not fully understood. However, after decades of research we now understand what damage to the frontal lobe can do to an individual's personality. Research has concluded that damage to the frontal lobe can result in changes in emotional behavior, promiscuity, motivation, lethargy, and inhibition. Individuals with brain trauma can also be prone to violent outbursts. I can definitely understand how bran injuries can result in changed behavior since the brain is essentially the master control of the human body. In addition to Phineas Gage, another famous case that illustrated how a traumatic brain
With damage to the frontal lobe, someone may no longer be able to distinguish the difference between right and wrong and may no longer think through all of the risks. If someone’s emotions are affected, they may no longer be able to feel empathy for others. ("What Is a Frontal Lobe Injury?"). All of these traits could add up to make the perfect serial killer.
My objective in the long term is to provide therapeutic and counseling services that assist persons suffering with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) in coping and recovering from the mental illnesses that often accompany such tragedies. TBI/ABI has shown a proven link with “anxiety, depression, personality changes, aggression (National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Resource Center May 8, 2009 Traumatic Brain Injury)”, as well as many other issues. As the caregiver for a survivor of a rare and deadly strain of encephalitis, I have a personal perspective that I feel brings much to the discussion. I see the information I am currently gathering at Empire State College as the building blocks that pave the way to a thrilling career in a growing segment of the mental health industry. The CDC claims that approximately 1.4 million Americans suffer TBIs annually (Centers for Disease Control Injury Center May 30, 2007 Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths) and it has been called the “signature injury” of the current wars in Iraq & Afghanistan by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. As such, it is my belief that we need to focus time and energy on developing new programs to help these patients to cope with the new limitations and encourage rehabilitation and restoration.
Traumatic brain injury or TBI occurs when a child has a head injury that causes damage to the brain. These injuries can be caused from being hit in the head or violently shaken. The results of TBI can change how a person’s brain develops, how they act, move, and think. It can also affect how they learn in school (NICHCY, 2012). TBI can affect the way a child thinks, retains information, attention span, behavior, speech, physical activities (which includes walking), and the way a child learns.
Aggression has been linked to significant repercussions in academic and social functioning (Farmer et al., 2011); and studies on youth have concluded that physical aggression was a predicting factor which preceded risky behaviors which developed later on in the adolescents that were studied. Those dicey inclinations included early onset of sexual activity and tendency to unsafe sexual behaviors, as well as substance abuse that incorporated tobacco, alcohol and drugs (Deater-Decard, 2008). This is an indication of how important is to prevent and intervene before aggression can lead to other dangerous and risky behaviors. To Deater-Decard (2008) it is essential that we continue to understand and improve our capability to decrease aggression, and to minimize the impact on our society.