4.2 Review

Conceptualization of self-awareness in adults with acquired brain injury: A qualitative systematic review

Journal

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION
Volume 32, Issue 8, Pages 1726-1773

Publisher

ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2021.1924794

Keywords

Self-awareness; Anosognosia; Rehabilitation; Brain injury; Occupational therapy

Funding

  1. Australian Government Training Program Scholarship
  2. National Heart Foundation of Australia [GNT102055]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Self-awareness is crucial in cognitive rehabilitation after acquired brain injury, with research exploring definitions and theoretical models to guide assessment and intervention. Studies have identified a wide theoretical basis for self-awareness following ABI, distinguishing between intellectual awareness, online awareness, and psychological denial.
Self-awareness is an important consideration in cognitive rehabilitation for clinicians working with individuals following acquired brain injury (ABI), with impaired self-awareness linked to poor outcomes. To appropriately target assessment and intervention for self-awareness, its theoretical foundation and definition must be considered. The aim was to identify the definitions, theoretical models and conceptual frameworks of self-awareness in adults with ABI, and how self-awareness is conceptualized within those models. A qualitative systematic review was completed using search terms related to descriptions of models/frameworks, ABI and self-awareness. Data were analysed by narrative synthesis. Thirty-five papers were included in the review. Within these, 13 models, 12 conceptual frameworks and 2 theories were described. The main themes and subthemes conceptualized in the synthesis were: Clinical presentation of self-awareness (classifications and dimensions of self-awareness), development of self-awareness (knowledge, feedback mechanisms, temporal aspects, self-evaluation, enablers, barriers), understanding (dys)function (cognitive processing mechanisms, neurological foundations, causal factors), and practice guidance (assessment and intervention). This review identified an extensive theoretical basis to support conceptualization of self-awareness following ABI, underpinned by a distinction between intellectual awareness, on-line awareness, and psychological denial. Clinical application of an evaluation process that includes these elements would be beneficial to inform the rehabilitation process.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.2
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available