JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

People with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be more susceptible to scams due to post-injury cognitive and psychosocial consequences. Cyberscams result in financial loss and debilitating psychological impacts such as shame and mistrust, interference with neurorehabilitation and reduced independence. Despite these significant consequences, there are no psychological treatments to support cyberscam victim-survivors. There is limited evidence regarding how the current workforce is addressing post-ABI cyberscams.

Objective:

This study aimed to understand the perspectives and needs of clinicians and service providers in addressing post-ABI cyberscams.

Methods:

Twenty multi-disciplinary clinicians and service providers were recruited through purposive sampling across Australia. Semi-structured interviews explored ABI-client scam experiences and vulnerabilities, treatments and their efficacy, and recommendations for future cybersafety recovery interventions.

Results:

Reflexive thematic analysis identified eight themes related to scam vulnerabilities and impacts: “Really? I didn’t see that: Executive Difficulties”; “CyberAbility”; “Financial Stress and Independence”; “Not Coping with the Loss of it All”; “Strong Reactions of Trusted Others”; “Scammer Influence”; “Needing Connection”; and “Nothing Structured To Do”. Each theme informed clinical recommendations including the need to provide psychological and cognitive support, to enhance financial and cybersafety skills, promote meaningful social engagement, and foster collaboration between families and clinical support teams.

Conclusions:

The multi-faceted range of scam vulnerabilities and impacts highlighted the need for individualised, comprehensive, targeted, and biopsychosocial-underpinned treatments to enable cyberscam recovery in people with ABI. These findings will guide the development of a co-design intervention.