Book excerpt: This textbook is designed for those who have head-injured clients as part of their caseload, but have little or no specialist training or experience in this area. In other words, those who work outside of specialist units. It aims to help the reader to develop a deeper understanding of the pathology and effects of any significant traumatic insult to the brain. The emphasis is on the long-term and continuing deficits of these clients which require ongoing rehabilitation, rather than on the acute, immediate post-injury aspects of care which are usually dealt with in special units. The content focuses on the general principles and issues involved rather than on the clinical details of care. It will help give those working in this area an understanding of the importance of their role in the ongoing rehabilitation process.