scholarly journals fNCI-directed treatment of sports related post-concussion syndrome ion syndrome

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (23 Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S21.1-S21
Author(s):  
Christiane Paney ◽  
Marci Johnson ◽  
Alina Fong ◽  
Mark Allen

PurposeWe propose that our individualized Enhanced Performance in Cognition (EPIC) Treatment can effectively address PCS in sports-related concussions by employing functional NeuroCognitive imaging (fNCI) in conjunction with post-concussion symptom scale measurements to inform and direct treatment modalities. fNCI is a specialized application of fMRI that utilizes a normative reference sample and biomarkers for concussion to provide sensitive and specific predictive diagnostic values. The fNCI addresses neurovascular coupling (NVC) dysregulation that commonly arises in PCS. These results inform individualized EPIC Treatment to restore normal NVC function with a treatment protocol that strategically integrates cardiovascular therapies with cognitive training.MethodsTwo hundred four sports concussion patients were assessed pre- and post-treatment using both objective (fNCI) and subjective Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) measures, establishing pre-treatment benchmarks to measure therapeutic effectiveness. Patients underwent EPIC Treatment, which is a week-long, multiple treatments per day period consisting of cognitive, occupational, and neuromuscular therapy informed by fNCI and standardized PCSS findings.ResultsfNCI Severity Index Score (SIS) reported an average 80 percent reduction in objective measurements from the pre-treatment scan. Subjective measurements from the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS) reveal 59 percent reduction of symptoms as described by patient report. The SIS measurements are stable in follow-up scans 1-year post-treatment.ConclusionWe provide evidence that fNCI can be used in assessment and treatment of chronic PCS resulting from SRC. Furthermore, the results provide evidence that our fNCI-guided treatment has positive outcomes in both objective and subjective measurements. This supports the hypothesis that our treatment effectively addresses PCS symptoms resulting from SRC. Follow-up fNCI scans indicate that improvements are stable following treatment.SignificanceSRC patients suffering from chronic PCS who were assessed by fNCI and underwent EPIC treatment report immediate, sustainable, and longitudinal reduction in symptoms resulting in significant improvements to quality of life and functionality.

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A203-A204
Author(s):  
J Arnedt ◽  
D Conroy ◽  
A Mooney ◽  
K DuBuc ◽  
S Balstad ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Telemedicine is increasingly an option for delivery of healthcare services, but its efficacy and acceptability for delivering CBT for insomnia has not been adequately tested. In a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we compared face-to-face and telemedicine delivery (via the AASM SleepTM platform) of CBT for insomnia for improving sleep and daytime functioning at post-treatment and 12-week follow-up. Methods Sixty-five adults with chronic insomnia (46 women, mean age 47.2 ± 16.3 years) were recruited primarily from insomnia clinics and screened for disqualifying sleep, medical, and mental health disorders. Eligible participants were randomized to 6 sessions of CBT for insomnia delivered face-to-face (n=32) or via AASM SleepTM (n=33). Participants completed self-report measures of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI) and daytime functioning (fatigue, depression, anxiety, and overall functioning) at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 12-week follow-up. The ISI was the primary non-inferiority outcome. Results Telemedicine was non-inferior to face-to-face delivery of CBT for insomnia, based on a non-inferiority margin of 4 points on the ISI (β = -0.07, 95% CI -2.28 to 2.14). Compared to pre-treatment, ISI scores improved significantly at post-treatment (β = -9.02, 95% CI -10.56 to -7.47) and at 12-week follow-up (β = -9.34, 95% CI -10.89 to -7.79). Similarly, daytime functioning measures improved from pre- to post-treatment, with sustained improvements at 12-week follow-up. Scores on the fatigue scale were lower in the telemedicine group at both post-treatment (F=4.64, df=1,119, p<.03) and follow-up (F=5.79, df=1,119, p<.02). Conclusion Insomnia and daytime functioning improve similarly whether CBT for insomnia is delivered via telemedicine or face-to-face. Telemedicine delivery of CBT for insomnia should be implemented more systematically to improve access to this evidence-based treatment. Support American Sleep Medicine Foundation Grant # 168-SR-17 (JT Arnedt, PhD)


F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Jay Spence ◽  
Nickolai Titov ◽  
Luke Johnston ◽  
Blake F Dear ◽  
Bethany Wootton ◽  
...  

Recent research indicates internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) can reduce symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the efficacy of an internet-delivered treatment protocol that combined iCBT and internet-delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (iEMDR), in an uncontrolled trial. Eleven of the 15 participants completed post-treatment questionnaires. Large effect sizes were found from pre-treatment to 3-month follow-up (d = 1.03 – 1.61) on clinician-assessed and self-reported measures of PTSD, anxiety and distress, with moderate effect sizes (d = 0.59 – 0.70) found on measures of depression and disability. At post-treatment, 55% of the participants no longer met criteria for PTSD and this was sustained at follow-up. Symptom worsening occurred in 3 of 15 (20%) of the sample from pre- to post-treatment; however, these participants reported overall symptom improvement by follow-up. Future research directions for iEMDR are discussed.


F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Spence ◽  
Nickolai Titov ◽  
Luke Johnston ◽  
Blake F Dear ◽  
Bethany Wootton ◽  
...  

Recent research indicates internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) can reduce symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the efficacy of an internet-delivered treatment protocol that combined iCBT and internet-delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (iEMDR), in an uncontrolled trial. Eleven of the 15 participants completed post-treatment questionnaires. Large effect sizes were found from pre-treatment to 3-month follow-up (d = 1.03 – 1.61) on clinician-assessed and self-reported measures of PTSD, anxiety and distress, with moderate effect sizes (d = 0.59 – 0.70) found on measures of depression and disability. At post-treatment, 55% of the participants no longer met criteria for PTSD and this was sustained at follow-up. Symptom worsening occurred in 3 of 15 (20%) of the sample from pre- to post-treatment; however, these participants reported overall symptom improvement by follow-up. Future research directions for iEMDR are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshimi Sugiura ◽  
Fumiki Okamoto ◽  
Tomoya Murakami ◽  
Shohei Morikawa ◽  
Takahiro Hiraoka ◽  
...  

AbstractTo evaluate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) on metamorphopsia in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and to assess the relationship between metamorphopsia and inner retinal microstructure and other factors. Thirty-three treatment-naïve eyes of 33 patients with macular edema caused by BRVO with at least 12 months of follow-up were included. The degree of metamorphopsia was quantified using the M-CHARTS. Retinal microstructure was assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) at the first month after resolution of the macular edema (early DRIL) and at 12 months after treatment (after DRIL) was studied. Central retinal thickness (CRT), and status of the external limiting membrane as well as ellipsoid zone were also evaluated. IVR treatment significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CRT, but the mean metamorphopsia score did not improve even after 12 months. Post-treatment metamorphopsia scores showed a significant correlation with pre-treatment metamorphopsia scores (P < 0.005), the extent of early DRIL (P < 0.05) and after DRIL (P < 0.05), and the number of injections (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the post-treatment mean metamorphopsia score was significantly correlated with the pre-treatment mean metamorphopsia score (P < 0.05). IVR treatment significantly improved BCVA and CRT, but not metamorphopsia. Post-treatment metamorphopsia scores were significantly associated with pre-treatment metamorphopsia scores, the extent of DRIL, and the number of injections. Prognostic factor of metamorphopsia was the degree of pre-treatment metamorphopsia.


Author(s):  
Gamze Akkus ◽  
Barış Karagun ◽  
Hilal Nur Yaldız ◽  
Mehtap Evran ◽  
Murat Sert ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesProlactinoma is the most common cause of pituitary tumours. Current medical guidelines recommend dopamine agonists (cabergoline or bromocriptine) as the initial therapy for prolactinoma. However, surgical removal can also be considered in selected cases, such as patients with macroadenomas with local complications (bleeding or optic chiasm pressure) or those not responding to medical treatment.MethodsThe present retrospective study included patients with prolactinomas (n=43; female, 24; male, 19) who were primarily managed with medical (n=32) or surgical (n=11) treatment.ResultsMacroadenoma (n=29.67%) was commonly detected in both genders (female, 54%; male, 84%). Moreover, the mean pre-treatment prolactin levels were similar in both genders (female, 683.3 ± 1347 ng/mL; male, 685.4 ± 805 ng/mL; p=0.226). Surgically treated patients had a greater reduction in tumour size (27.7 ± 17.9 mm pre-treatment vs. 8.72 ± 14.2 mm post-treatment) than non-surgically treated ones (12.5 ± 7.5 mm pre-treatment vs. 4.1 ± 4.2 mm post-treatment; p=0.00). However, the decrease in prolactin levels was similar between the two patient groups (p=0.108). During the follow-up period (10.6 ± 7.0 years), the average cabergoline dose of the patients was 1.42 ± 1.47 mcg/week.ConclusionsAlthough a surgical approach was considered for selected cases of prolactinoma, the average dose used for medical treatment was highly inadequate for the patients in the present study.


Author(s):  
Henriët van Middendorp ◽  
Anneleen Berende ◽  
Fidel J. Vos ◽  
Hadewych H. M. ter Hofstede ◽  
Bart Jan Kullberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction/Objective Expectancies about symptom improvement or deterioration are reliable predictors of symptom progression and treatment outcomes (symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement) in many (non-)pharmacological studies and treatments. This study examined predictors of symptom improvement after antimicrobial therapy for persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, hypothesizing particularly pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement to be predictive. Methods A predictive study was performed on pre-treatment and post-treatment individual characteristics, including expectancies, and physical and mental health–related quality of life (HRQoL) from the PLEASE-trial comparing randomized 12-weeks of doxycycline, clarithromycin-hydroxychloroquine, or placebo following 2 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone. At end-of-treatment (14 weeks after trial start) and follow-up (52 weeks), complete data of 231 and 170 (of initial 280) patients with persistent symptoms temporally related to a history of erythema migrans or otherwise confirmed symptomatic Lyme disease, or accompanied by B. burgdorferi IgG or IgM antibodies, were examined through hierarchical regression analyses. Results In addition to pre-treatment HRQoL, pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement were consistently associated with stronger physical and mental HRQoL improvements at both end-of-treatment and follow-up (95% CI range: .09;.54, p < .01 to .27;.92, p < .001). Post-treatment expectancies regarding having received antibiotics vs. placebo was associated with more HRQoL improvement at end-of-treatment, but not at follow-up (95% CI-range 1.00;4.75, p = .003 to −7.34; −2.22, p < .001). Conclusions The present study shows that, next to pre-treatment functioning, patients’ pre-treatment and post-treatment expectancies regarding improvement of persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease relate to a more beneficial symptom course. Expectancies of patients may be relevant to explain and potentially improve patient outcomes (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01207739 (Registration date: 23–09-2010) Key Points• As there is currently no sufficient symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement for many patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, it is relevant to know which factors determine symptom progression and predict heterogeneity in treatment response.• Next to pre-treatment functioning, expectancies regarding symptom improvement and having received antimicrobial study medication are associated with a more beneficial symptom course after both shorter-term and longer-term antimicrobial treatment.• Expectancies are relevant to consider in treatment studies and may be useful in clinical settings to improve symptom course and treatment outcome (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success).


2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 1221-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Topak ◽  
A Sahin-Yilmaz ◽  
T Ozdoganoglu ◽  
H B Yilmaz ◽  
M Ozbay ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectives:This study aimed to determine whether intratympanically injected methylprednisolone is effective in treating subjective tinnitus refractory to medical treatment.Study design:Prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blinded study.Methods:Seventy adult patients with subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin were randomly assigned to receive intratympanic injection of either methylprednisolone or saline solution. The treatment protocol comprised three intratympanic injections, one per week for three weeks. Improvement in tinnitus severity was measured by a self-rated tinnitus loudness scale and by the tinnitus severity index, at baseline and two weeks after the last injection.Results:Data for 59 patients were available for analysis. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups regarding age, sex, pure tone average, pretreatment tinnitus intensity, tinnitus laterality or tinnitus duration. There was a significant post-treatment improvement in self-rated tinnitus loudness scale results in both groups. No significant post-treatment changes in the tinnitus severity index individual and total scores were observed in either group. The most frequently encountered side effects were pain during injection, vertigo, a burning sensation around the ear and in the throat, and a bitter taste. A burning sensation and bitter taste were observed more often in the methylprednisolone group compared with the placebo groupConclusion:The results of this study indicate that intratympanic methylprednisolone has no benefit, compared with placebo, for the treatment of subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin refractory to medical treatment.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Adva Segal ◽  
Daniel S. Pine ◽  
Yair Bar-Haim

Abstract Background Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that attention control therapy (ACT), targeting aberrant fluctuations of attention toward and away from threats in patients with PTSD, may be effective in reducing symptoms. The current RCT examined whether the use of personalized-trauma stimuli enhances ACT efficacy in patients with PTSD. Additional moderators of treatment outcome were tested on an exploratory basis. Methods Sixty patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to either personalized ACT, non-personalized ACT, or a control condition. Changes in symptoms were examined across pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up. Attentional interference was examined pre- and post-treatment. Baseline clinical and cognitive indices as well as the time elapsed since the trauma were tested as potential moderators of treatment outcome. Results A significant reduction in clinical symptoms was noted for all three conditions with no between-group differences. Attention bias variability decreased following ACT treatment. Personalized ACT was more effective relative to the control condition when less time had elapsed since the trauma. Baseline clinical and cognitive indices did not moderate treatment outcome. Conclusions In this RCT of patients with PTSD, ACT was no more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms than a control condition. The data also suggest a potential benefit of personalized ACT for patients who experienced their trauma more recently.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Lima ◽  
Hanna McCabe-Bennett ◽  
Martin M. Antony

Background: The present study examined the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy for treating individuals with storm fears by comparing a one-session VR exposure treatment with a one-session progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and psychoeducation session. Aims: It was predicted that there would be a reduction in storm-related fear post-treatment for individuals in both conditions, but that this reduction would be greater for those in the VR exposure condition. It was predicted that improvements would be maintained at 30-day follow-up only for those in the VR exposure condition. Method: Thirty-six participants each received one of the two treatment conditions. Those in the PMR treatment group received approximately 30 minutes of PMR and approximately 15 minutes of psychoeducation regarding storms. Those in the VR treatment group received approximately 1 hour of VR exposure. Additionally, participants were asked to complete a pre-treatment and post-treatment 5-minute behavioural approach test to assess changes in storm fears. They were also asked to complete a measure assessing storm phobia. Results: There was a significant interaction between treatment group and self-reported fear at post-treatment, such that fear decreased for both groups, although the reduction was stronger in the VR group. Results also showed that reductions in storm fear were maintained at 30-day follow-up for both groups. Conclusions: Although this study used a small non-clinical sample, these results offer preliminary support for the use of VR exposure therapy in the treatment of storm-related fear.


2016 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. Echanique ◽  
Stuti V. Desai ◽  
Emily Marchiano ◽  
Eleonora F. Spinazzi ◽  
Primož Strojan ◽  
...  

Objective Laryngeal verrucous carcinoma (LVC) is a rare, locally invasive neoplasm comprising 1% to 3.4% of laryngeal carcinomas. Management strategies are a topic of ongoing conversation, and no definitive treatment protocol based on T stage and presentation exists. This review examines characteristics, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes of LVC. Data Sources PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Methods Databases were searched through October 29, 2015, for literature detailing individual patient cases of LVC. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, tumor size, treatment, and outcomes. Results Thirty-seven articles with 369 cases were included. LVC was found more commonly in males (13.8:1), at an average age of 58.7 years, and located in the glottis (74.0%). Most patients had local disease at presentation (94.9%). The most common presenting symptom was hoarseness (92.3%). The most common primary treatment was surgery alone (72.3%), with local excision as the most common technique (56.8%). In patients with data available on both surgical modality and T stage, most patients who presented as T1 and were managed surgically underwent local excision (79.2%). Surgical treatment alone led to high rates of disease-free survival at follow-up (86.8%). A large number of patients presenting with T1 disease were disease free at follow-up (88.6%). Overall survival was 80.3%. Conclusion LVC is most often managed surgically. The extent of surgical resection may be guided by T stage, with smaller tumors resected via local excision and larger tumors via partial or total laryngectomy. Regardless of T stage or therapy, LVC has a good posttreatment prognosis.


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