The Case of "Judith": A Neuropsychologist's Perspective

Executive Functioning (EF) deficits may be the most catastrophic form of brain injury, as they alter one’s personality and sense of self while impeding the ability to make use of rehabilitation, compensatory strategies, psychotherapy and social support. The injury itself can produce a loss of appreciation for the deficits, as well as depression, apathy and a lack of empathy. Although EF deficits can be nuanced, individuals with EF deficits are often presumed incapable of benefiting from higher order interventions. Ward and Hogan’s (2015) case study of Judith effectively contradicts this assumption. While this case does not offer traditional neuropsychological assessment results, it highlights how the value of such measures rests in their ecological validity. The years of psychotherapy and intervention that Judith underwent offer ample ecological data and an opportunity to comment on the neurobiological aspects of Judith’s injury and recovery beyond the assessment setting.