TBI One Love Podcast

To wrap up our October series, we are having Amy Jayne Needham a Forensic Psychologist student calling in from the UK!

Amy is very passionate about brain injury, and it is the focus of my Doctoral research. Prior to starting her training, she worked within high-secure prisons in the UK running a Brain Injury Pathway. My role was to set up, screen and support prisoners who screened positive for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) under the supervision of a Consultant Clinical-Neuropsychologist. This is where her passion and interest in brain injury, in particular TBI grew.

"Research has highlighted the consequences of TBI such as difficulties with regulating emotions, disinhibited behaviour, increased aggression, changes in empathy, drug use, social and occupational difficulties, offending behaviour and re-offending. However, there is very little regarding resources available about TBI within prisons and the criminal justice system, either to support the individuals, or to educate and train staff how to work with people who have sustained TBIs. I decided to dedicate my research to exploring TBI within the context of offending behaviour. My research has focused on exploring TBI looking at mental health, cognitive functioning and ADHD, how TBI is associated with offending behaviour, and how personality traits can impact any potential associations between TBI and offending. Furthermore, I have also completed a systematic review examining the internalising and externalising behaviours that occur following TBI in adults. I am working to update and publish this review upon completing my course. At the time of writing, I have submitted my research and have an examination date to defend my research in a viva voca. My hope is that I will be qualified within the new year."