Impact of traumatic brain injury on perception of self and behaviour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of traumatic brain injury on perception of self and behaviour
IRAS ID
130618
Contact name
Cecilia Wolfenstein
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University
Research summary
This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to develop knowledge about how people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience their sense of self. The study focuses on participants’ who have experienced a loss of sense of self. It will explore whether they have re-constructed their reality of sense of self, changes in identity and behaviour post-injury. It will explore change of behaviour post-injury. The findings will have implications for counselling psychologists working with this large client group by providing new knowledge concerning the psychological suffering experienced by these individuals.
In this study a psychosocial approach will be used. A narrative analysis will be followed by a psychoanalytic formulation of the interview transcripts. A psychosocial approach is used to provide a multidimensional understanding of the research questions. The study will integrate the narrative analysis with a psychoanalytic approach.
The target number of participants will be eight. The participants will be male and female with age range from 18-70 years. The participants will be outpatients at the Neurosurgery departments at St Mary’s Hospital. They will have symptoms of TBI at least six months post-injury. The researcher is interested whether they have experienced loss of sense of self or change of behaviour post brain injury.
Prior to taking part the potential participants will be asked some screening questions. This will be conducted by telephone and last around 10-minutes. The participants will be required to attend a 60-minute face-to-face semi-structured interview with the researcher. They will have to travel to Neurosurgery/Neurology departments at St Mary’s Hospital or City University to attend the interview. Prior to the interview they will be given an information sheet and a consent form to read and sign. The study is expected to last for one year and four months.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1432
Date of REC Opinion
11 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion