Brain Injury
Conditions
Keywords
Brain Injury, Neuropsychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Brief summary
Acquired brain injury can result in impaired everyday functioning as well as psychosocial problems, including depressive symptoms, irritability, or negative self-concept. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a combination of neuropsychological and cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of these sequelae.
Detailed description
Acquired brain injury (ABI) commonly results in persistent cognitive, emotional and motivational problems. About 50% of patients involved develop psychiatric illness, most likely in the first year following ABI, which is associated with reduced psychosocial functioning and less favorable rehabilitation outcome. Treatment of these complex conditions requires a combination of neuropsychological and psychotherapeutic intervention techniques. This study aims at evaluating a combination of neuropsychological intervention methods, which include developing and using compensation strategies for cognitive impairments (attention, memory and executive functions), and psychotherapeutic intervention focusing on emotion regulation, developing positive self-concepts and adjustment of life-goals. These therapeutic interventions are modularized and patients are assigned to intervention modules according to results of objective neuropsychological testing and interviews.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALNeuropsychological Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Neuropsychological Cognitive Behavioral Therapy encompasses 2 foci: First emphasis is on neuropsychological compensatory strategies for the treatment of deficits in attention, memory, and executive functions. Secondly, cognitive behavioral intervention techniques are employed to support the patient in the process of coping with chronic illness: i.e. improve regulation of negative affect, diversify the impaired self-concept after acquired brain injury, and adjust important life-goals to changed circumstances.
Sponsors
Psychotherapie-Ambulanz Marburg e.V.
Philipps University Marburg
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Having suffered an acquired brain injury after the age of 14, such as traumatic brain injury, neoplasm (after surgery), toxic brain damage, or brain damages through inflammatory diseases * Being at least 3 months post injury * Being German-speaking * Agreeing to participate, verified by completion of informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Suffering from recurrent, degenerative, or progressive neurological diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, dementia, Chorea Huntington) * Current or past psychosis or bipolar disorder * Current or past diagnosis of substance dependency * History of mental retardation * Currently in psychotherapy * Severe lateralized disorder (e.g. aphasia, neglect) * Lacking minimum basic skills for attending therapy (e.g. not orientated to person, place, time, and events; unable to sustain attention for an hour-long session; cannot state cognitive strengths and weaknesses; cannot state areas in everyday functioning that are impaired due to the acquired brain injury)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Psychosocial Adjustment/ Everyday Functioning as a composite score of SCL-90-R and AFIB | Pre-/ Post-Design, including 3 ponts of measurement: at the beginning of therapy/ waiting period; immediately after completion of therapy/ waiting period; catamnestic measurement 6 months later |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Quality of Life (Qolibri, Seiqol, SWLS) | Pre-/ Post-Design, including 3 points of measurement: at the beginning of therapy/ waiting period; immediately after completion of therapy/ waiting period; catamnestic measurement 6 months later |
| Self-concept/ Life Goals (HISDS II; GOALS; RSES-REV; Self-complexity Measure; FSKN) | Pre-/ Post-Design, including 3 points of measurement: at the beginning of therapy/ waiting period; immediately after completion of therapy/ waiting period; catamnestic measurement 6 months later |
| Psychopathology/ Affect (ADS; PANAS) | Pre-/ Post-Design, including 3 points of measurement: at the beginning of therapy/ waiting period; immediately after completion of therapy/ waiting period; catamnestic measurement 6 months later |
| Community Integration (CIQ) | Pre-/ Post-Design, including 3 points of measurement: at the beginning of therapy/ waiting period; immediately after completion of therapy/ waiting period; catamnestic measurement 6 months later |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed