NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION OF AN ADOLESCENT PATIENT AFTER INTRACRANIAL EMBOLIZATION OF AVM – A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This paper discussed a case study of a 15-year-old girl who had had a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by arteriovenous malformation. A brain arteriovenous malformation is a defect in the vascular system, a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. The patient attended regularly neuropsychological rehabilitation and several various therapeutic methods were applied. A neuropsychological diagnosis was performed before and after therapy. The first assessment showed some cognitive disturbances: difficulties in the organization of memorized material, difficulties in maintaining attention and deficits in abstract thinking. Furthermore there were observed emotional problems: depression and high perfectionism. The patient participated in individual therapy lasting one year. Neuropsychological rehabilitation took into consideration the personal psychological resources and cognitive and emotional difficulties. As a result, there was observed an improvement in consequent cognitive functions: organization of memorized material, working memory, abstract thinking and verbal fluency. The emotional state was stable. It is important that the therapy should be holistic and includes all aspects of the patient’s functioning, which may have an influence on the final result of rehabilitation. One of the most important aims of the therapy psychologist was an acceptance of the disease. The cognitive tasks can also include psychological and therapeutic exercises.