Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the Amsterdam memory and attention training for children (Amat-c) following acquired brain injury (ABI): protocol for a pilot study with online clinician support

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Cathy Catroppa ◽  
Edith Botchway ◽  
Nicholas P. Ryan ◽  
Vicki Anderson ◽  
Elle Morrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Attention Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Clinician Support

Abstract Background: Attention and memory deficits are common following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI). However, there are few evidence-based interventions to improve these domains and benefit the everyday life of children post-injury. The Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for children (Amat-c) has been translated from Dutch to English and shown to improve attention and memory skills in children following ABI. This protocol describes a study to expand accessibility of the program by using online, clinician-supported delivery with children post-ABI. Method/design: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be 40 children aged 8–16 a minimum of one-year post-ABI. Participants in the treatment group will complete 18 weekly sessions of the Amat-c program with weekly online clinician support. Participants in the active-control group will be administered ABI psychoeducation via a booklet for parents, with weekly online clinician contact. Attention and memory will be assessed at three time points up to six months post-intervention. Results: Analysis will be repeated measures multivariate planned comparisons; using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics) General Linear Model procedure will compare pre- and post-intervention and six-month follow-up outcomes. Discussion: If shown efficacious in improving attention and memory, our team will then take a key role in implementing Amat-c into clinical care.

Evaluation of an attention and memory intervention post-childhood acquired brain injury: Preliminary efficacy, immediate and 6 months post-intervention

Brain Injury ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1317-1324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Catroppa ◽  
Kate Stone ◽  
Stephen J. C. Hearps ◽  
Cheryl Soo ◽  
Vicki Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Memory Intervention

Improving Self-awareness After Acquired Brain Injury Leads to Enhancements in Patients’ Daily Living Functionality

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Villalobos ◽  
Álvaro Bilbao ◽  
Francisco López-Muñoz ◽  
Javier Pacios
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Awareness Level

AbstractObjective:To explore whether the improvement in self-awareness induced by a structured intervention programme in patients suffering a brain injury is associated with an enhancement in their functional outcomes.Method:This study uses a pre- and post-test control group design with a sample of 56 patients with acquired brain injury randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were self-awareness (using a previously developed scale) and functional outcome (using the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale).Results:Patients who received the intervention programme showed a greater improvement in their self-awareness level and functional outcome than patients in the control group. Additionally, the correlation analyses between improvements at both measures showed a relation between improvement in self-awareness and improvement in functional outcome, especially when the pre-treatment self-awareness level was considered.Conclusions:Implementing an intervention programme in self-awareness, in the context of a global rehabilitation process of patients with acquired brain injury, is useful for improving their self-awareness level and the functionality in their daily activities.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury (PASABI): A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Marta Pérez-Rodríguez ◽  
Saleky García-Gómez ◽  
Javier Coterón ◽  
Juan José García-Hernández ◽  
Javier Pérez-Tejero
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wide Range

Background and objectives: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the first cause of disability and physical activity (PA) is a key element in functional recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the subacute and chronic phases. However, it is necessary to develop PA programs that respond to the heterogeneity and needs of this population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a PA program on the HRQoL in this population. Materials and Methods: With regard to recruitment, after baseline evaluations, participants were assigned to either the intervention group (IG, n = 38) or the control group (CG, n = 35). Functional capacity, mood, quality of life and depression were measured pre- and post-intervention. The IG underwent the “Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury” (PASABI) program, which was designed to improve HRQoL (1-h sessions, two to four sessions/week for 18 weeks). The CG underwent a standard rehabilitation program without PA. Results: Results for the IG indicated significant differences and large effect sizes for the physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, as well as mood and functional capacity, indicating an increase in HRQoL. No significant differences were found for the CG across any variables. Conclusions: The PASABI program was feasible and beneficial for improving physiological and functionality variables in the IG. The wide range of the activities of the PASABI program allow its application to a large number of people with ABI, promoting health through PA, especially in the chronic phase.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)-based neurofeedback as a new treatment tool for depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 937-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Linden ◽  
T. Lancaster
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
New Treatment

We investigated whether depressed patients who received fMRI-based neurofeedback are able to upregulate the activity in brain areas devoted to positive emotion processing and thereby establish improvements in mood state. Eight medicated patients with major depression participated in four separate fMRI sessions, each of which consisted of an emotion localiser and three neurofeedback runs. Target areas were selected individually with a functional localiser that identified the region most responsive to positive affective images. The target areas were in uni- or bilateral prefrontal cortex, insula or amygdala. During neurofeedback runs, patients received real-time feedback about activation levels in the target area. Each patient learnt to increase target area activity over successive sessions. Depression scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale improved significantly. No such improvement was seen in a non-neurofeedback control group (N = 8) that was matched for symptom severity, demographics and medication and used the same cognitive/affective strategies that were employed successfully by the neurofeedback group, but outside the scanner. This group difference in treatment effects was supported by a significant interaction between the factors time (pre/post-intervention) and group (neurofeedback/controls) on the repeated measures ANOVA (F(1,14) = 10.15, p = .007). The neurofeedback group showed increasing activity in the ventral striatum and regions involved in cognitive control as training progressed. Upregulation of brain areas responsive to positive affective cues through fMRI-neurofeedback is thus a promising tool in the treatment of depression. The novelty of the present approach consists in the combination of biological and cognitive factors in the same intervention.

Returning to work after acquired brain injury: A mixed method case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Valerie Burke ◽  
Laura O’Rourke ◽  
Emer Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Work Skills ◽  
Mixed Methods Case Study ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Returning To Work

BACKGROUND: Vocation is a meaningful area of rehabilitation after Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). There is a discrepancy between the number of individuals with an ABI who feel able to work and those who are employed in Ireland. Research suggests that Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs enhance Return to Work (RTW) outcomes after ABI, however existing literature is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the experience of engaging in VR post ABI, and its impact upon work self-efficacy. METHODS: A mixed methods case study design was selected to represent the individuality of ABI presentations. Participants completed a qualitative interview at VR follow up (N = 2) and the Work Self-Efficacy Inventory at pre/post VR. RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged including Stigma, Adjustment, Support and Readiness. RTW challenges included fatigue, accepting support, adjusting to work and stigma. RTW benefits included routine, pride in work, skills development, and empowerment. Wilcoxon signed rank indicated that work self-efficacy scores mildly improved post VR. CONCLUSIONS: This research may inform VR Programs and offers pragmatic clinical implications based on the data. Future research should consider the role that readiness plays in facilitating RTW. Limitations include sample size, a lack of longitudinal data and control group.

scholarly journals Mood, Activity Participation, and Leisure Engagement Satisfaction (MAPLES): a randomised controlled pilot feasibility trial for low mood in acquired brain injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Kusec ◽  
Fionnuala C. Murphy ◽  
Polly V. Peers ◽  
Cara Lawrence ◽  
Emma Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Low Mood ◽  
Activity Planning

Abstract Background Acquired brain injury (ABI) affects approximately 79.3 million individuals annually and is linked with elevated rates of depression and low mood. Existing methods for treating depression in ABI have shown mixed efficacy. Behavioural activation (BA) is a potentially promising intervention. Its premise is that individuals with low mood avoid planning and engaging in activities due to low expectations of a positive outcome. Consequently, their exposure to positive reinforcement is reduced, exacerbating low mood. BA aims to break this cycle by encouraging activity planning and engagement. It is unknown whether cognitive demands of traditional BA may undermine efficacy in ABI. Here, we assess the feasibility and acceptability of two groups designed to increase activity engagement. In the activity planning group (traditional BA), the importance of meaningful and positive activity will be discussed and participants encouraged to plan/engage in activities in everyday life. The activity engagement group (experiential BA) instead focuses on engagement in positive experiences (crafts, games, discussion) within the group. The primary aims are to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the two groups in ABI. A secondary aim is to explore relative efficacy of the groups compared to an equivalent period of waitlist controls. Method This study outlines a parallel-arm pilot feasibility trial for individuals with low mood and ABI that compares a traditional vs experiential BA group vs waitlist controls. Adults (≥ 18 years) will be recruited from local ABI services and randomised to condition. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via recruitment, retention, attendance and participant feedback. Groups will be compared (pre- and post-intervention and 1 month follow-up) by assessing self-reported activity engagement. Secondary outcomes include self-report measures of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic distress related to the ABI, motivation, participation and sense of control over one’s life. Ethics and dissemination The trial has been approved by the Health Research Authority of the NHS in the UK (East of England—Cambridge Central, REF 18/EE/0305). Results will inform future research on interventions for mood in ABI and be disseminated broadly via peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and social media. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03874650 pre-results. Protocol version 2.1, March 5, 2019

Self-concept and self-esteem after acquired brain injury: A control group comparison

Brain Injury ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie Ponsford ◽  
Amber Kelly ◽  
Grace Couchman
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Group Comparison

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effect of Atorvastatin Administration on the Outcomes of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Soltani ◽  
Farahzad Janatmakan ◽  
Sara Jorairahmadi ◽  
Fatemeh Javaherforooshzadeh ◽  
Pooyan Alizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Disability Rating Scale ◽  
Double Blinded

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the common causes of long-term disabilities and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin administration on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and Disability Rating Scale (DRS) in patients with TBI. Methods: This double-blinded randomized clinical trial included 60 patients with TBI in Golestan Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran. After obtaining an informed consent from all patients, the patients were randomly assigned into two groups. For the intervention group, atorvastatin with a daily dose of 20 mg was used. The control group was administered the same amount of placebo for 10 days. Changes in the level of consciousness were measured using the GCS, and functional recovery rate in patients was measured by GOS and DRS in the third follow-up month. Results: According to the obtained results, compared with the control group, the atorvastatin administration significantly increased the level of GCS and DRS within 2 - 3 months post-intervention and improved GOS since the tenth day after the study (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results revealed the positive effect of atorvastatin on the improvement of outcomes measurements such as GCS, DRS, and GOS in patients after moderate and severe TBI.

scholarly journals Effects of School-Based Exergaming on Urban Children’s Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Quasi-Experimental Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye ◽  
Pope ◽  
Lee ◽  
Gao
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control School ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
School Based ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Over Time

Background: Modern-day technology is appealing to children. Few studies, however, have conducted longitudinal analyses of a school-based exergaming program’s effect on physical activity (PA) behaviors and fitness in children. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal effect of an 8-month school-based exergaming intervention on children’s objectively-measured PA and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Materials and Methods: Eighty-one fourth grade students (X̅age = 9.23 ± 0.62; 39 girls; 54.3% African American, 30.9% Non-Hispanic White, 14.8% other) participated in this study from 2014–2015. The intervention school’s children participated in a once-weekly 50-minute exergaming intervention during recess throughout the school year, while the control school continued regular recess. Children’s in-school PA and sedentary behavior (SB) were measured with ActiGraphGT3X+ accelerometers, with CRF assessed via the half-mile run. All measurements were taken at baseline, mid-intervention (four months) and post-intervention (eight months). Repeated-measures two-way ANCOVAs using age and race as covariates were conducted to examine between-school differences over time for SB, light PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and CRF. Results: Significant time by group interactions were observed for LPA, F(1, 79) = 7.82, η2 = 0.09, p < 0.01, and MVPA, F(1, 79) = 4.58, η2 = 0.06, p < 0.05, as LPA increased among the control group, while MVPA increased among intervention group. Children in both groups experienced decreased SB during the intervention (intervention: −7.63 minutes; control: −17.59 minutes), but demonstrated lower CRF over time (intervention: +46.73 seconds; control: +61.60 seconds). Conclusions: Observations suggested that school-based exergaming implementation may be effective in increasing children’s MVPA and decreasing their SB over the course an academic year (i.e., ~eight months). More research is needed, however, to discern how modifications to school-based exergaming might also promote improved CRF in children.

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