EMDR Treatment for Persistent Post Concussion Symptoms Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
pp. EMDR-D-21-00015
Author(s):  
Phil S. Moore

The majority of people who experience mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) have a healthy recovery, where initial somatic, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral mTBI-related symptoms resolve naturally within hours or days. Unfortunately, a significant minority of people unfortunately develop persistent symptoms referred to as persistent Post Concussion Syndrome (pPCS), often causing severe long-term reduction in wellbeing and daily function. Psychological and neuropsychological treatments are typically limited to antidepressants, psycho-education on mTBI and pPCS, basic neuro-rehabilitative cognitive compensatory strategies, traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or no treatment at all. This paper discusses a single case study which demonstrates how Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy might provide psychological improvement in clients who sustain mTBI who develop pPCS. The case example describes a 57-year-old man who sustained a mTBI from a serious road traffic collision as a pedestrian, and who developed pPCS. Treatment included nine, 1.5-hour EMDR sessions across a 5-month period (1st being an assessment). Measures of psychological symptom change and client feedback were taken at pretreatment, midtreatment, posttreatment, and aftertreatment had ceased to gauge long-term status. Measures were taken at 18-month follow-up and 4-year review (which followed litigation settlement). The novel viability for the application of EMDR for this client group is discussed.

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Rany Vorn ◽  
Maiko Suarez ◽  
Jacob C. White ◽  
Carina A. Martin ◽  
Hyung-Suk Kim ◽  
...  

Chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has long-term consequences, such as neurological disability, but its pathophysiological mechanism is unknown. Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRNAs) may be important mediators of molecular and cellular changes involved in persistent symptoms after mTBI. We profiled exosomal microRNAs (exomiRNAs) in plasma from young adults with or without a chronic mTBI to decipher the underlying mechanisms of its long-lasting symptoms after mTBI. We identified 25 significantly dysregulated exomiRNAs in the chronic mTBI group (n = 29, with 4.48 mean years since the last injury) compared to controls (n = 11). These miRNAs are associated with pathways of neurological disease, organismal injury and abnormalities, and psychological disease. Dysregulation of these plasma exomiRNAs in chronic mTBI may indicate that neuronal inflammation can last long after the injury and result in enduring and persistent post-injury symptoms. These findings are useful for diagnosing and treating chronic mTBIs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Déry ◽  
Élaine De Guise ◽  
Marie-Eve Lamontagne

Abstract Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an increasing public health problem, and persistent symptoms following mTBI have several functional consequences. Understanding the prognosis of a condition is an important component of clinical decision-making and can help to guide prevention of long-term disabilities and to intervene with mTBI patients. Prognosis of chronic symptoms in mTBI has stimulated several empirical primary research papers and many systematic reviews. We aim to integrate these heterogenous factors into a model in order to have a better understanding of such prognostic factors on the development of chronic symptoms.Methods: We will conduct an overview of systematic reviews following steps described in the Cochrane Handbook. We will search for systematic reviews in databases using a search strategy to include articles that review evidence about prognosis of persistent symptoms after an mTBI in the adult population. Two reviewers will independently screen all references and then select eligible reviews based on eligibility criteria. Any disagreements will be discussed by the two reviewers and if consensus is not reached, we will consult a third reviewer. A data extraction grid will be used to extract relevant information. The risk of bias included will be rated using ROBIS tool. Data will be synthesized into a comprehensive conceptual map in order to have a better understanding of the predictor factors that could impact the recovery after mTBI.Discussion: Results will help multiple stakeholders, such as clinicians and rehabilitation program managers, to understand the prognosis of long-term consequences following an mTBI. It could guide stakeholders to recognize predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors of their patients and to invest their time and resources on patients needing the most.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020176676


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Déry ◽  
Élaine De Guise ◽  
Ève-Line Bussières ◽  
Marie-Eve Lamontagne

Abstract Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an increasing public health problem that can lead to persistent symptoms that have several functional consequences. Understanding the prognosis of a condition is an important component of clinical decision-making and can help guide the prevention of long-term disabilities of patients with mTBI. Several studies and systematic reviews have been conducted in order to understand prognosis of chronic symptoms following mTBI. We aim to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on factors that affect the risk of persistent symptoms in mTBI-affected adults. Methods We will conduct an overview of systematic reviews following steps described in the Cochrane Handbook. We will search in Cochrane, Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Epistemonikos for systematic reviews about the prognosis of persistent symptoms following mTBI in the adult population. Two reviewers will independently screen all references and then select eligible reviews based on eligibility criteria. A data extraction grid will be used to extract relevant information. The risk of bias in the included reviews will be assessed using the ROBIS tool. Data will be synthesized into a comprehensive conceptual model in order to have a better understanding of the predictive factors of post-concussion symptoms following mTBI. Discussion Results will help multiple stakeholders, such as clinicians and rehabilitation program managers, to understand the prognosis of long-term consequences following mTBI. It could guide stakeholders to recognize their patients’ prognostic factors and to invest their time and resources in patients who need it the most. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020176676.


Author(s):  
Pierre Langevin ◽  
Philippe Fait ◽  
Pierre Frémont ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Roy

Abstract Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an acknowledged public health problem. Up to 25% of adult with mTBI present persistent symptoms. Headache, dizziness, nausea and neck pain are the most commonly reported symptoms and are frequently associated with cervical spine and vestibular impairments. The most recent international consensus statement (2017 Berlin consensus) recommends the addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms. The addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach including the evaluation and treatment of cervical and vestibular impairments leading to symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness is, however, recommended based only on limited scientific evidence. The benefit of such intervention should therefore be further investigated. Objective To compare the addition of a 6-week individualized cervicovestibular rehabilitation program to a conventional approach of gradual sub-threshold physical activation (SPA) alone in adults with persistent headache, neck pain and/or dizziness-related following a mTBI on the severity of symptoms and on other indicators of clinical recovery. We hypothesize that such a program will improve all outcomes faster than a conventional approach (between-group differences at 6-week and 12-week). Methods In this single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 46 adults with subacute (3 to12 weeks post-injury) persistent mTBI symptoms will be randomly assigned to: 1) a 6-week SPA program or 2) SPA combined with a cervicovestibular rehabilitation program. The cervicovestibular rehabilitation program will include education, cervical spine manual therapy and exercises, vestibular rehabilitation and home exercises. All participants will take part in 4 evaluation sessions (baseline, week 6, 12 and 26) performed by a blinded evaluator. The primary outcome will be the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale. The secondary outcomes will be time to clearance to return to function, number of recurrent episodes, Global Rating of Change, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Headache Disability Inventory and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. A 2-way ANOVA and an intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Discussion Controlled trials are needed to determine the best rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness. This RCT will be crucial to guide future clinical management recommendations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier - NCT03677661, Registered on September, 15th 2018.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huazhen Chen ◽  
Karl Kevala ◽  
Elma Aflaki ◽  
Juan Marugan ◽  
Hee-Yong Kim

Abstract Background Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can result in chronic visual dysfunction. G-protein receptor 110 (GPR110, ADGRF1) is the target receptor of N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide) mediating the anti-neuroinflammatory function of synaptamide. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an endogenous and a synthetic ligand of GPR110, synaptamide and (4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl) docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenamide (dimethylsynaptamide, A8), on the mTBI-induced long-term optic tract histopathology and visual dysfunction using Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration (CHIMERA), a clinically relevant model of mTBI. Methods The brain injury in wild-type (WT) and GPR110 knockout (KO) mice was induced by CHIMERA applied daily for 3 days, and GPR110 ligands were intraperitoneally injected immediately following each impact. The expression of GPR110 and proinflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the brain was measured by using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in an acute phase. Chronic inflammatory responses in the optic tract and visual dysfunction were assessed by immunostaining for Iba-1 and GFAP and visual evoked potential (VEP), respectively. The effect of GPR110 ligands in vitro was evaluated by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production in primary microglia isolated from adult WT or KO mouse brains. Results CHIMERA injury acutely upregulated the GPR110 and TNF gene level in mouse brain. Repetitive CHIMERA (rCHIMERA) increased the GFAP and Iba-1 immunostaining of glia cells and silver staining of degenerating axons in the optic tract with significant reduction of N1 amplitude of visual evoked potential at up to 3.5 months after injury. Both GPR110 ligands dose- and GPR110-dependently increased cAMP in cultured primary microglia with A8, a ligand with improved stability, being more effective than synaptamide. Intraperitoneal injection of A8 at 1 mg/kg or synaptamide at 5 mg/kg significantly reduced the acute expression of TNF mRNA in the brain and ameliorated chronic optic tract microgliosis, astrogliosis, and axonal degeneration as well as visual deficit caused by injury in WT but not in GPR110 KO mice. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that ligand-induced activation of the GPR110/cAMP system upregulated after injury ameliorates the long-term optic tract histopathology and visual impairment caused by rCHIMERA. Based on the anti-inflammatory nature of GPR110 activation, we suggest that GPR110 ligands may have therapeutic potential for chronic visual dysfunction associated with mTBI.


Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. e06709
Author(s):  
Bretta Russell-Schulz ◽  
Irene M. Vavasour ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Alex L. MacKay ◽  
Victoria Purcell ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 219 (4) ◽  
pp. e144-e145
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Shinn ◽  
Amy Pate ◽  
Frederique Pinto ◽  
Akella Chendrasekhar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Déry ◽  
Béatrice Ouellet ◽  
Élaine de Guise ◽  
Ève-Line Bussières ◽  
Marie-Eve Lamontagne

Abstract Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an increasing public health problem, because of its persistent symptoms and several functional consequences. Understanding the prognosis of a condition is an important component of clinical decision-making and can help to guide prevention of persistent symptoms following mTBI. Prognosis of mTBI has stimulated several empirical primary research papers and many systematic reviews leading to the identification of a wide range of factors. We aim to synthesize these factors to get a better understanding of their breadth and scope.Methods: We conducted an overview of systematic reviews. We searched in databases systematic reviews synthesizing evidence about prognosis of persistent symptoms after mTBI in the adult population. Two reviewers independently screened all references and selected eligible reviews based on eligibility criteria. They extracted relevant information using an extraction grid. They also rated independently the risk of bias using the ROBIS tool. We synthesized evidence into a comprehensive conceptual map to facilitate the understanding of prognostic factors that have an impact on persistent post-concussion symptoms.Results: From the 3857 references retrieved in database search, we included 25 systematic reviews integrating the results of 312 primary articles published between 1957 and 2019. We examined 35 prognostic factors from the systematics reviews. No single prognostic factor demonstrated convincing and conclusive results. However, age, sex and multiple concussions showed an affirmatory association with persistent post-concussion outcomes in systematic reviews.Conclusion: We highlighted the need of a comprehensive picture of prognostic factors related to persistent post-concussion symptoms. We believe that these prognostic factors would guide clinical decision and research related to prevention and intervention regarding persistent post-concussion symptoms.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020176676


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