Abstract

Successful compensation is key to successful rehabilitation of patients with neuropsychological disorders. But what exactly do we mean by “successful compensation”? In this thesis I wish to address this question by examining compensation strategies of two different patients. First, I will characterize in detail the autonomous form of compensation developed by a patient who learned to live independently despite suffering from a severe form of amnesia. I will argue that this case can teach us important lessons about the possibilities, preconditions but also the limitations inherent to supporting patients in conquering the everyday challenges posed by impaired memory. Second, I will examine one specific treatment approach and its potential to help patients compensate for their neuropsychological deficits and their psychiatric sequelae. This study focuses on a patient with panic disorder and neuropsychological deficits in emotional experience and emotion perception after amygdalohippocampectomy. She was treated with an individualized form of cognitive behavioural therapy. This second case will inform us about the preconditions and promise of the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for the treatment of psychological problems emerging in the context of neurological conditions. These case reports help to understand how behavioural, psychological, and psychiatric factors after brain injury influence rehabilitation strategies and to identify important factors for successful rehabilitation outcome.