Key words: stroke, traumatic brain injury, psychosocial, longitudinal, aftercare

"Psychosocial outcome after stroke and traumatic brain injury - Longitudinal perspectives and recommendations for aftercare"

The research in this dissertation focuses on the psychosocial consequences of stroke and traumatic brain injury. Psychosocial consequences are reduced thinking functions such as concentration and memory problems, emotional consequences such as anxiety and gloominess and reduced participation in society. Participation includes, for example, participation in activities such as work, housework, sports and social contacts.

The results of the study show that a large proportion of people living at home recover well from brain injury, but some do not. For example, people are afraid of a new stroke or are unable to resume work because they have concentration problems. Because the psychosocial consequences for the outside world are not always visible, more structural attention is needed. Low-threshold aftercare by nurses provides this essential attention to psychosocial problems: people feel reassured. Moreover, this is a relatively inexpensive form of care for people living at home with brain damage.