A personal intervention substance abuse treatment approach: Substance abuse treatment in a least restrictive residential model.

The following paper will detail demographic information about alcohol and substance abuse issues in the acquired brain injury (ABI) population. Included in such a review will be a systematic presentation of the current data on the incidence of such issues as well as a comprehensive treatment model with outcome data provided. Pre- and post-test measures of separate functional outcome areas were employed to assess the effects of the treatment package. The paper will document the core elements of a substance abuse treatment programme that is based upon community inclusion and positive, proactive treatment methods in facilitating decreases in substance abuse behaviour. The programme employed a host of individual and group session protocols specifically targeted at education and self-monitoring of behaviour in order to facilitate more effective self-control of addictive behaviours. The positive outcomes achieved by the participants involved in the study provide clinical justification for a proactive behavioural approach to substance abuse in the ABI population.

Increasing functional rehabilitation in acquired brain injury treatment: effective applications of behavioural principles.

This paper investigated ways to increase the participation of direct care staff in the functional rehabilitation activities (FRAs) of adults with acquired brain injuries (ABIs). FRAs were rehabilitation agendas written by clinical staff for delivery by paraprofessionals. Increases in FRA completion were believed to be directly related to clinical success. These FRAs had been identified as key components in the rehabilitation programmes of the adults living within the residential facilities. Increases in FRAs were crucial in improving the quality of the rehabilitation programmes of the participants involved. The study observed four residential settings serving adults with ABIs using a multiple baseline design. The treatment approach consisted of public posting of weekly FRA documentation, incorporation of staff input, and reinforcement for documentation of FRAs. The results indicated a positive impact on the participation of staff in all of the residences in the study, consistent with implementation of the treatment package.