mTBI Workbook?
 

I was looking on Amazon for the book someone recommended earlier, and I ran across an mTBI workbook by Douglas J. Mason. It claims to have exercises to help improve cognitive function and mood. Anybody seen or tried it?

A TBI friend just recommended ** It has quite a bit of free games and challenges for cognitive practice. It's interesting but it is definately a challenge. There are specific "games" for different needs.

I just looked up Douglas J Mason and his Neurocognitive Therapy™ I am not impressed. He appears more oriented to making money that developing true therapeutic techniques. When I see someone who trademarks a generic term such as Neurocognitive Therapy™ and then read their work and it reads like a compilation of many other works I have read before, I get doubtful.

He appears to have worked with injuries that are more severe than just PCS. Some of what he writes appears to be more aligned with those who have had prolonged coma and hospitalization. He does include some caveats that indicate that he is aware than his techniques may not be appropriate for some brain injuries. The intensity of his neurocognitive therapy appears more oriented toward the more severe injuries.

He talks about "forcing" the brain to develop new pathways. These are techniques used for much more severely damaged brains, more likely focal injuries where there are uninjured brain networks that can take over for the damaged areas.

I much more prefer Glen Johnson's work and his free TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com. It likely cover much of the same material. Glen Johnson is a Ph.D. in psychology. Mason is a Psy.D. The difference is a Ph.D must do research and understand the research methodology of neuro-psych research. The Psy.D. has just studied the existing research. It is a much less intense degree.

Psy.D. degrees are often awarded by stand alone Schools of Psychology. Ph.D. degrees are more likely awarded by University based schools with research departments.

Mason also appears to be a "mind over matter" type. This is a group of therapists who believe that most problems within the brain can be overcome with the proper psychological therapy and training. A common diagnosis from this type is that most of the prolonged dysfunctions are psychological rather than organic/physiological. His long list of taboo medications supports this concept.

I was assessed by two different neuro-psychs who both held this bias. One was a Ph.D. and the other a Psy.D. Their interpretation of my similar scores from neuro-psych batteries done 6 years apart were almost exactly the same. They both made the same assumptions by refuting the low scores of the specific tests that suggested organic/physiological injuries.

Mason mentions using the PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test) test as a therapy. This is a test that set the standard for testing for mTBI cognitive dysfunction. It was developed by the late Dorothy Gronwall Ph.D. in New Zealand back in the mid 1970's. Dr Gronwall has commented that most who use her PASAT test do not follow her protocol thus negating the validity of the test.

As one who has rehabilitated an dysfunctional brain in the past, the intensity of Neurocognitive Therapy™ appears to be both too intense and likely too expensive. A simple system of working with computerized math skills programs and other challenges may be just as valid. Sudoku can be a worthwhile exercise. The simpler puzzles first ifthey do not cause frustration and stress. Flash cards for visual exercises and having someone read flash cards for auditory exercises can be just as valid. Again, do not push to a frustration/overload level. It will be counter-productive.