Acute Spinal Cord Injury, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognitive Impairment, Spinal Cord Injuries
Conditions
Keywords
processing speed
Brief summary
This study seeks conduct a pilot study to test whether a cognitive training program can improve processing speed abilities in individuals with acute traumatic spinal cord injury.
Detailed description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) newly affects approximately 18,000 persons in the US per year. Decades of research have focused on the physical limitations associated with SCI, as well as therapies for addressing these physical problems. However, it is becoming better acknowledged that many individuals experience significant problems with their cognitive abilities, such as attention, memory, and the time it takes them to process information. Research has shown that people who have cognitive difficulties, compared to those with a purely physical disability, are less likely to be employed, engage in fewer social and work-related activities, have greater difficulties carrying out routine household tasks, and are at higher risk for mental illness. If cognitive issues arise after an SCI, it is more likely that a person would have a more challenging time adapting the many lifestyle changes brought about by their injury, would benefit less from their rehabilitation program, and have more difficulty rejoining the workforce. As it stands, cognitive assessment or rehabilitation is not part of the standard of care for individuals after their SCI because of the relative lack of research in this area. This study seeks conduct a multisite pilot study to test whether a cognitive training program can improve processing speed abilities in individuals shortly after they experience their SCI, with the hopes that this early intervention will improve the trajectory of their overall health and well-being.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALgame-like computerized activities
Experimental
BEHAVIORALPlacebo
game-like computerized activities
Sponsors
Craig Hospital
University of Washington
Kessler Foundation
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 59 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18-59 years old * recent traumatic SCI (approximately 6 months post-injury)
Exclusion criteria
* no other significant neurological, psychiatric or substance use history * no significantly impairing visual disturbance
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Useful Field of View (UFOV) | baseline to immediate post-treatment (week 13) and long-term follow-up (week 25) | computerized processing speed task |
| Letter & Pattern Comparison (LPC) | baseline to immediate post-treatment (week 13) and long-term follow-up (week 25) | processing speed task, using both letter and pattern strings |
| Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) | baseline to immediate post-treatment (week 13) and long-term follow-up (week 25) | processing speed task, matching numbers to symbols using a key |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life scales | baseline to immediate post-treatment (week 13) and long-term follow-up (week 25) | self-reported instruments of quality of life after SCI |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactErica Weber
Outcome results
None listed