BY INVITATION ONLY

Traumatic Brain Injury: An Overview

Each year more than 2.8 million persons in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury, the leading cause of acquired brain injury (ABI). The causes include falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports/recreational activities, as well as attempted suicides/homicides, interpersonal violence, child abuse and combat-related trauma. This training has been designed to provide participants with a basic overview of the epidemiology, acute and long-term consequences of TBI. The primary limitation is that the content is basic and intended for non-medical professionals. It is possible that the content of the training would be psychologically stressful for any attendee who has experienced a TBI or has a family member/significant other who has sustained a TBI.  There are no other perceived risks.

Specific learning objectives:

a. List the common causes of traumatic brain injury and describe other epidemiological aspects, including vulnerability of ethnic/racial subpopulations and as related to gender

b. Differentiate the acute symptoms and pathophysiology of mild and moderate/severe TBI, as well as combat-related TBI

c. Describe the common neurobehavioral/neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive sequelae of TBI, and correlation of these impairments with the sites/severity of injury to the brain

d. List the common co-morbid conditions and disorders associated with TBI (e.g., substance use, homelessness)

e. Describe the community-based resources for persons with TBI and their families

TBI2 | 2 CE Credits | FREE

Pre-Registration REQUIRED

BY INVITATION ONLY

Francesca LaVecchia, PhD, is a senior level clinician with over 40 years experience in the field of clinical neuropsychology, rehabilitation, and neurobehavioral treatment. From 1985-2013, Dr. LaVecchia held the position of Chief Neuropsychologist for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and in that capacity was instrumental in the development of clinically-informed, community-based services for individuals living with acquired brain injury. With respect to her faculty appointments, Dr. LaVecchia served as Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Cellular Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine,  (Medical Neurosciences faculty) for 25 years. Since 1983, she has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, where she is a member of the Behavioral Neuroscience doctoral program core faculty.