Abstract
The impacts of Acquired Brain Injury on both survivors of the injury, and on their
family members, are profound. The consequences of Acquired Brain Injury are highly
idiosyncratic. Equally, focusing on families, it is important to consider that all families are
diverse. This thesis aimed to examine how families are considered following a brain injury in
both clinical practice and research. The empirical paper (part two of this portfolio) was
completed first, and the literature review (part one of this portfolio) emerged thereafter.
Part one of this portfolio is a conceptual review of family functioning in adult brain
injury literature. The findings of this review observed many different conceptualisations of
family functioning across the literature base, and highlighted several relevant aspects related
to defining and measuring this concept. Quality appraisal of the included studies supported
the need for future research, especially with regards to addressing social difference
intersecting with family functioning in this population. Part two of this portfolio is an
empirical paper adopting Foucauldian Discourse Analysis to consider clinicians views of
family needs following an Acquired Brain Injury. The findings highlighted several wider
discourses that participating clinicians working in neurorehabilitation contexts drew on, and
how these collectively appeared to inform professionals’ clinical practice. The implications of
these papers on both clinical practice and research were considered.