Occupational Identity Disruption After Traumatic Brain Injury: An Approach to Occupational Therapy Evaluation and Treatment

ABSTRACT

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) represent a significant population for occupational therapy practitioners. The long-term physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial symptoms of TBI can contribute to the experience of occupational identity disruption and affect participation outcomes in community living. Although occupational therapy scholars have studied the topic of identity, there appears to be a gap in the education and research literature regarding the topic of post-TBI occupational identity disruption. This article describes theoretical perspectives on identity, summarizes evidence regarding post-TBI identity disruption and the transition process, and examines the role of occupational therapy in evaluating and treating identity disruption.

KEYWORDS. :

• Adaptation
• disruption
• identity
• occupation
• traumatic brain injury