Welcome to the Brain Injury Research Institute

A delusion is a false belief with three basic characteristics: the person who holds it genuinely and deeply believes it is true; it is demonstrably false; the affected person does not waver in his or her opinion even when presented with solid contradictory evidence. It is markedly different from either a lie or a mistaken belief that changes when corrected. When a person suffers from persistent false beliefs that interfere with his or her daily functioning, he or she may be diagnosed with a delusional disorder.

These disorders can have many different underlying causes: genetic conditions, infections that affect the brain, progressive mental illness, and more. In many cases, doctors are unable to determine exactly why an individual patient has developed his or her symptoms. A certain percentage of these disorders are even caused by brain injuries. Whether the damage is related to a blow to the head, a forceful movement of the head that causes the brain to hit the walls of the skull, or prolonged oxygen deprivation, the consequences can be devastating.

There are times when a brain injury lawyer is tasked with the job of proving a case that seems next to impossible. Often called the invisible dilemma, it is tough to show that a victim has been through a difficult situation and was left with permanent damage that cannot be repaired. While some clients show obvious signs of what they have been through, others look completely normal from the outside. It takes a much closer look and extra evidence to actually prove the catastrophic results of the situation.

The Assistance of an Expert

A brain injury lawyer often depends on expert witnesses to prove a case. When the judge or jury looks over at the victim, the signs of damage may not be evident. If he or she is siting quietly and attempting to follow all of the proceedings, there are no signs that anything is wrong. Unfortunately, because there are no outward signs, the person or people handing the decision surrounding compensation can wrongfully assume that less is due to the victim.

Sometimes a light touch is all you need. At least, that's what proponents of craniosacral therapy believe. This relatively new type of massage, which has only been widely used in the alternative mainstream for about 30 years, works to alleviate problems associated primarily with pain and loss of function. It does this by applying very light pressure to evaluate and correct the body's craniosacral system: connected to the brain and spinal cord.

While the people who seek out cranisosacral therapy are sometimes disabled individuals or parents of babies who have undergone some type of birth trauma, it is also recommended for people who suffer from migraines, tension, anxiety and other relatively minor disorders. People who have it often report a variety of benefits, including improved sleep, better mobility and increased energy.

Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury or ABI is any damage to the brain resulting from a sudden, external, physical assault. Such injury is one of the most common causes of death and disability in adults.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is an expansive term, which describes a wide range of injuries that occur to the brain. Damage to the brain may either be:

- Focal - damage is limited to one section of the brain

- Diffuse - damage occurs in more than one section of the brain

The severity of brain injuries may range from a minor concussion to a serious injury which results in coma or death.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a very serious matter. Most of these cases are not treated well because of lack of good information on how to treat such an injury. Oftentimes, some law professionals don't even have a full understanding on the truths about this debilitating injury that it affects the claims that get thru the insurance adjusters and disability examiners. That partly explains for many of claims getting unfair settlements or low disability benefits. What does a lawyer need to know about the truths regarding brain surgery? It is therefore worth noting the myths surrounding traumatic brain injury cases, and discerning the truth behind it.

The divorce rate stands at 50% of all marriages, effecting more than 1 million children in the United States each year. This is the second in series of articles that looks at divorce and children and focuses on the general effect of divorce. The other articles examine the cultural changes in the attitude toward marriage, custodial arrangements and remarriage on the children involved in the divorce process and the last articles reflects on the of counseling children of divorce.

There are many studies that discuss the extent of psychological and behavioral problems that a child of divorce faces.

A new term is being used in the literature to describe today's family unit; binuclear family as opposed to the nuclear family. A binuclear family is any family that spans two households. This language is replacing the term broken home (Karpf & Shatz, 2005). Karpf and Shatz suggested using this term rather than broken family to present a "more positive view" of the divorced family. The major difference between the nuclear family and the binuclear family is the potential complexity of extended family relationships. Children dealing with step-parents, step- siblings, being shuttled between two homes, holidays being split between two family traditions.

When looking at drug use, drug abuse, drug dependency and drug addiction, one finds that there are many divergent opinions about these terms and how they identify the drug-using behaviors of the public. Dr. Alan Leshner, the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse for the U.S. Government, states: "There is a unique disconnect between scientific facts and the public's perception of drug addiction,"

From a lecture in March, 1998 at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Leshner explained how brain function is modified by drug use and how that change persists after an individual stops taking drugs. Addiction also has to be recognized as a result of many bio-behavioral factors.