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Improving Executive Functions After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A Clinical Trial of the Executive Plus Program

Improving Executive Functions After TBI: A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Executive Plus Program

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00233129
Enrollment
77
Registered
2005-10-05
Start date
2005-10-31
Completion date
2010-11-30
Last updated
2013-09-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury

Keywords

Day treatment, executive function, problem solving, attention, participation, TBI, brain injury, traumatic brain injury

Brief summary

This is a randomized clinical trial which compares a standard day treatment program for individuals with TBI with the Executive Plus program; the latter emphasizes training of attention, emotional self-regulation and problem solving. The goal of the Executive Plus program is to maximize executive functioning, as well as the long-term outcomes of community participation and satisfaction with daily life.

Detailed description

This is a randomized clinical trial comparing two approaches to post-TBI comprehensive day treatment. Executive Plus offers systematic treatment of post-TBI executive function deficits, through a focus on problem solving and emotional self-regulation, as well as systematic treatment of post-TBI attention deficits. It relies on modular, contextual, and embedded approaches to treatment. It will be compared to Mount Sinai's currently operating day treatment program. The 26-week programs will run concurrently and potential participants will be randomly assigned to Executive Plus or the standard program, using rolling admissions. Program staffs will be separate. Outcomes will be assessed using measures that focus on functioning within cognitive domains, across domains and in everyday life, and that assess long-term outcomes. Detailed manuals will be developed to guide the implementation of each program's operation.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALTop Down

Six months

OTHERcognitive rehabilitation day treatment program

six months

Sponsors

U.S. Department of Education
CollaboratorFED
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* At least 18 years old * Having a TBI as a result of a blow to the head followed by a loss of consciousness or period of being dazed and confused or a period of post traumatic amnesia or clinical signs of altered neurological function; this information must be medically documented (e.g., emergency medical record, hospital record, neuroradiological report, or neurological exam or record of physician's visit within 24 hours of injury). * At least three months post-injury * English-speaking (treatment sessions will be conducted in English) * Reporting executive dysfunction (by self or family) * Willing and able to participate in and travel to the program daily for six months * Oriented to time, place and person * Having a full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) of at least 75 * Having a score on the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test of 75 or more * Having communication skills adequate to participate in groups * Having at least a sixth-grade reading level (for testing and use of written materials) * Willing to complete questionnaires and interviews about mood, thinking skills, participation and the like * Agree to participate, i.e., completion of informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) documents

Exclusion criteria

* Active substance abuse * Active psychosis * Active suicidality * Disruptive or violent behavior to self or others * Current cognitive rehabilitation (this does not include psychotherapy) * No impairment on the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FRSBE) or Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Cognitive functionAt baseline

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
MemoryAt baseline
LearningAt baseline
ParticipationAt baseline
Affective distressAt baseline
Life satisfaction and self-efficacyAt baseline

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026