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People in Scotland who have been diagnosed with acquired brain injury (ABI) or alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) may be missing out on the correct treatment because of wrong diagnoses, a new report claims.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland visited 167 patients with a diagnosis of either ABI or ARBD in NHS psychiatric wards, care homes, community services and supported tenancies.

A fifth of the patients were found to be inappropriately placed, a view that was supported by a number of care home managers.

It found that a lack of expertise meant ABI and ARBD were sometimes confused with dementia.

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), one of the community-based service providers visited in the report, is pleased that this particular area of care has been looked at.

SAMH chief executive Billy Watson said: "As one of the few providers of specialist ARBD services in Scotland, SAMH knows how important it is for people with this condition to get the right support."

The Scotsman reports that there were 538 recorded cases of ARBD in Scotland in 2007, compared with 357 in 1998.

News from Serious Law, specialist acquired brain injury solicitors

Posted by Matthew Dixon 

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