Call for an Integrative and Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Abstract

Much has been gained in our understanding of the psychopathology, assessment, and treatment of TBI. Still lacking is the breadth and depth that an integrative and multi-disciplinary approach to TBI portends. While there is a greater awareness of a need for such a systems-based approach as evidenced by the number of professional organizations and government agencies recently advocating a need for standardization in the collection data in TBI, the application of multi-dimensional approach, and the development novel strategies to deliver prevention, assessment and treatment to large, diverse populations, we are still in the early stages in making this important shift. In the nearer term, there are clinical assessment and interventional programs that can be developed and empirically validated to bring us closer to this integrative, multi-disciplinary ideal. The following review calls for a universal diagnostic classification system for TBI, integration of pathophysiology and pharmacological and rehabilitative therapies, development of treatments addressing disorders comorbid with TBI, and the delivery of assessment and treatment services to large underserved populations.