13

Physical medicine and rehabilitation units are treating patients with earlier and earlier stages of brain injuries. In 2001, the consensus conference of Bordeaux, designed by the French Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Society (SOFMER), specifies a checklist between intensive care and rehabilitation. This paper defines the psychologist’s missions. It is based on reflections and the clinical experience of a psychologist who spent nine years working in a coma-treatment unit. In these units, the psychologist is specialized in subjectivity and intersubjective relationships, and plays a particular role in the triad of patient, relatives, and rehabilitation/healthcare staff. Indeed, he can intervene when the staff has difficulties in managing patients’ and relatives’ sufferings, especially when no request is expressed. He can also understand the complex psychic life experience of a subject in subjective instability.