Early intervention aimed at preventing persistent complaints after mild traumatic brain injury: a comparison between cognitive behavioral therapy and telephone counselling

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrthe Scheenen ◽  
Jacoba Spikman
Author(s):  
Carlie K. Elmer ◽  
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod

Focused Clinical Question: Does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduce concussion symptoms among children and adolescents following mild traumatic brain injury? Clinical Bottom Line: Based on the results of this critically appraised topic, there is moderate evidence to support the use of CBT as a treatment intervention to reduce complaints of persistent concussion symptoms in children and adolescents.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1019-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrthe E Scheenen ◽  
Annemarie C Visser-Keizer ◽  
Joukje van der Naalt ◽  
Jacoba M Spikman

Purpose: Many patients with mild traumatic brain injury do not fully return to work owing to persistent posttraumatic complaints. Research suggests that preventing chronic complaints might be prevented by giving cognitive behavioral therapy early after injury. Therefore, a new cognitive behavioral intervention (UPFRONT-intervention) was developed to not only prevent chronic complaints but to also establish a more successful return to work. The intervention is currently being evaluated in a multicenter randomized controlled trial design (trial number ISRCTN86191894) in mild traumatic brain injury patients who are at-risk of negative outcomes (patients with high numbers of early complaints). Two case examples are presented to demonstrate the application of the intervention. Rationale: Psychological factors, like cognitive appraisal and coping, play an important role in the persistence of posttraumatic complaints. Some patients are less able to adapt and thus to cope with the injury and its initial consequences than others. Dealing with the injury in a passive, avoidant way, focusing on negative feelings, will hamper recovery and is therefore a valuable target for an intervention. Theory into practice: The UPFRONT intervention is a short cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for patients that are at-risk of developing persistent posttraumatic complaints. Patients will undergo five sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy within 4–10 weeks after trauma. The intervention aims to enhance patients’ feeling of competency of dealing with the consequences of mild traumatic brain injury by providing psycho-education, identifying and challenging unrealistic illness perceptions and improving coping style (decreasing maladaptive coping and enhancing adaptive coping).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marthe Ford ◽  
Gert J. Geurtsen ◽  
Erny Groet ◽  
Coen A.M. Van Bennekom ◽  
Eus J.W. Van Someren

Abstract Background: Up to a third of stroke patients and patients with traumatic brain injury suffer from insomnia, including problems to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. Insomnia may exacerbate other brain damage-related problems, for example regarding cognitive functioning and emotional well-being, may lead to poorer quality of life, and may complicate recovery processes. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, delivered face-to-face or online, is found to be effective in the general population. However, despite the high prevalence and serious consequences of insomnia following acquired brain injury, studies on the efficacy of face-to-face cognitive behavioral treatment in this population are scarce, and this applies even more for studies on online cognitive behavioral therapy. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed guided online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia following acquired brain injury.Methods: A multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point study (PROBE) will be conducted, in which 48 patients diagnosed with stroke or traumatic brain injury, and insomnia will be randomly allocated to the online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia treatment group or the treatment as usual group. The treatment consists of 6 online cognitive behavioral therapy sessions given on a weekly basis and personalized feedback after each session, combined with 2 face-to-face sessions. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention period and at 6 weeks follow up. The primary outcome is the insomnia severity assessed with the insomnia severity index. Secondary outcome measures include sleep quality, sleep features derived from the sleep diary, fatigue, anxiety and depression, subjective cognitive functioning and societal participation.Discussion: This study will provide insight on the efficacy of online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia following stroke and traumatic brain injury.Trial Register: Netherlands Trial Register, NTR7082, 12 March 2018


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document