None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of the study is to detmine the effect of clinician-facilitated cognitive retraining (using 'Rehacom' computer software) of attention, concentration and speed of information processing on cognitive and emotional outcomes, and quality of life, for clients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the post-acute stage following their injury (i.e., more than 6 months post-injury). Training sessions will be spread over 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Outcome will be determined by performance on standardised cognitive tests of attention, speed of processing, memory and frontal executive functions (ie initiation, flexibility of thinking, ability to inhibit impulsive responses), which will be given before (2 times) and after (2 times) the training programme. We will also be investigating the effects of the computer-based training on participant's mood and quality of life through the use of self-report inventories.
Interventions
Intervention:
'Rehacom' computer-based cognitive retraining software (Hasomed):
This is designed to train attentional, memory and other cognitive functions through visually-based tasks which are graded in difficulty (rather like simple computer games). This involves 16 training sessions (45 minutes each, 2 training sessions per week) facilitated by the principal investigator and co-investigator (both registered Clinical Psychologists in New Zealand) over an 8 week period. The Rehacom software
Intervention: 'Rehacom' computer-based cognitive retraining software (Hasomed): This is designed to train attentional, memory and other cognitive functions through visually-based tasks which are graded in difficulty (rather like simple computer games). This involves 16 training sessions (45 minutes each, 2 training sessions per week) facilitated by the principal investigator and co-investigator (both registered Clinical Psychologists in New Zealand) over an 8 week period. The Rehacom software is designed to systematically record and save participanmts scores and progress through the different stages of each training procedure.
Sponsors
Abano Rehabilitation, New Zealand
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
TBI of all severity (mild - severe), impairment (demonstrated on cognitive testing) in at least one domain of attention (<1.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean), time since TBI of at least one year, minimum age of 16 years, male and female, all ethnic and cultural groups.
Exclusion criteria
Patients on medications which significantly affect arousal/alertness, progressive neurological conditions (eg dementia, Multiple Sclerosis), significant language barrier or severe acquired speech / language disorder, visual / hearing impairments and visual field defects, patients receiving other simultaneous cognitive rehabilitation, premorbid psychiatric disorders, severe upper limb motor or sensory impairments.
Outcome results
None listed