Treatment Approaches and Interventions Flashcards

Which pharmacological agent is most commonly used to manage agitation in the acute phase of TBI recovery?

Answer: Quetiapine

Quetiapine is often preferred for agitation in TBI due to its atypical antipsychotic profile with a lower risk of lowering seizure threshold compared to typical antipsychotics.

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is primarily indicated for TBI survivors with which type of deficit?

Answer: Unilateral upper extremity hemiparesis

CIMT constrains the unaffected limb to force use of the paretic upper extremity, promoting neuroplasticity and motor recovery in hemiparetic patients.

A TBI patient demonstrates difficulty initiating tasks despite intact motor ability. Which intervention best targets this initiation deficit?

Answer: External cueing strategies

External cueing strategies (e.g., alarms, prompts, checklists) directly compensate for frontal lobe-mediated initiation deficits common after TBI.

What is the primary purpose of a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) in TBI rehabilitation?

Answer: Identify antecedents and consequences maintaining problem behaviors

An FBA examines the triggers and reinforcing consequences of challenging behaviors to inform individualized behavioral intervention plans.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for TBI is currently considered:

Answer: Experimental with insufficient evidence to recommend routinely

Current evidence does not support HBOT as a routine TBI treatment; clinical trials have shown mixed results and it remains investigational.

In managing post-traumatic spasticity, which intervention combines stretching with prolonged low-load force application?

Answer: Serial casting

Serial casting applies sustained low-load stretch over time to reduce spasticity and improve range of motion in affected limbs.

Which cognitive rehabilitation strategy teaches a skill by breaking it into small steps and practicing each step without allowing errors?

Answer: Errorless learning

Errorless learning minimizes mistakes during acquisition to strengthen correct responses, particularly beneficial for individuals with significant memory impairment.