Commentary on the INCOG 2.0 Guideline ⟪Executive Functions⟫ Regarding Cognitive Rehabilitation after Traumatic Brain Injury

Executive functions include mental abilities associated with higher control and planning tasks and the coordination of basal cognitive processes. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impair these abilities in the long term and significantly limit all-day functioning and quality of life. Clinical neuropsychology has methods for diagnosing executive dysfunctions and offers a variety of strategies for their treatment. In 2023, an interdisciplinary network of experts, the International Group of Cognitive Researchers and Clinicians (INCOG), published a revised and updated guideline recommendation for treating impaired executive functions and self-awareness after moderate to severe TBI. This article summarizes and comments on the central points of these guidelines. In addition, it compares them to the S2e guidelines of the Association of the Scientific Medical Society e. V. (AWMF) and the German Society for Neurology (DGN) on "Diagnostics and Therapy of Executive Dysfunctions in Neurological Diseases." The article concludes with a discussion of the limitations and practical applicability of the guidelines.