Brain injury and emotion: An overview to a special issue on biopsychosocial approaches in neurorehabilitation.

Survivors of acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk of a range of neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders. Emotional disturbance, with reactive elements of mood disorder, such as depression and anxiety, appear particularly common. Specific anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have also been identified. Pain syndromes are also common-particularly in those who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Survivors of ABI are often atrisk of substance misuse and of irritability states. Their relationships may suffer from the stresses triggered by the aftermath of injury. Intimate, in particular, sexual relationships may be particularly affected. These effects are not, necessarily, only consequent of severe injuries, as mild TBI can also have, for some, significant neuropsychiatric effects. Assessment and management of such conditions are compromised by survivors of injury often having a limited insight into the sequelae of their injuries. Interventions for such disorders and forms of distress are increasingly available. This paper introduces the special issue of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation on biopsychosocial approaches in neurorehabilitation. A range of papers provide overviews for assessing and managing such neuropsychiatric, mood and behavioural (health and habit) disorders.