Does pain influence cognitive performance in patients with mild traumatic brain injury?

Objectives: Pain is still a neglected problem in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In this cross-sectional study, we examined the frequency of musculoskeletal pain in a sample of adult patients with persistent cognitive symptoms after mTBI and whether pain level affected cognition.

Methods: The participants were 23 adult patients aged 18-50 referred to brain injury rehabilitation clinics for neuropsychological assessment after having sustained an mTBI.

Rehabilitation with intensive attention training early after acquired brain injury promotes better long-term status on health-related quality of life, daily activities, work ability and return to work.

Objective: To describe long-term effects on activity, participation, and quality of life (i) at different post-injury starting time points of attention training and (ii) of two different types of rehabilitation with attention training in patients after stroke or traumatic brain injury; and to describe their functioning level.

Design: 2 years after rehabilitation intervention, comparisons were made in one cohort receiving attention training subacute (< 4 months) or post-acute (4-12 months) and in one cohort with two different training methods, a process-based and an activity-based method respectively.

Patients: 100 patients were recruited from our earlier RCT study.

Comparison of attention process training and activity-based attention training after acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled study.

Objectives: To compare the effects of 2 interventions for attention deficits in people with acquired brain injury, Attention Process Training (APT) and Activity--based Attention Training (ABAT), on activity and participation.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Patients: The study included 51 patients in out-patient rehabilitation 4-12 months after stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Impaired cognitive functioning in stress-induced exhaustion disorder: a new tablet-based assessment.

Background: The adverse health effects of stress induced exhaustion disorder (SED) cause increasing concern in Western societies. This disorder is characterized by severe fatigue, decreased tolerance to further stress, and attention and memory lapses. Despite subjective complaints, individual cognitive deficits are not always detected in a clinical setting, which calls for the validation of more sensitive instruments.

Does Intensive Training of Attention Influence Cognitive Fatigability in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury?

Research Objectives: Impairments in attention and the speed of information processing are central to the experience of cognitive fatigue in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Attention may be improved through intensive training in a rehabilitation setting. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of reducing cognitive fatigability (CF) using attention training and to explore the effect of two different approaches to attention training.

Beneficial effects of early attention process training after acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Evaluation of outcome after intensive cognitive rehabilitation early after brain injury is complicated due to the ongoing biological recovery process.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Attention Process Training early after acquired brain injury through time-series measurement with statistical process control.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Is a structured work task application for the assessment of work performance in a constructed environment, useful for patients with attention deficits?

Background: The purpose of our study was to develop a Structured Work Task application for the Assessment of Work Performance for patients with attention deficits.

Material And Methods: We developed a computer-based registration task titled the Attention-demanding Registration Task. It had a structured administrative procedure with additional scoring regarding time and accuracy, also linked to the original scoring of the Assessment of Work Performance.

Emotional reserve and prolonged post-concussive symptoms and disability: a Swedish prospective 1-year mild traumatic brain injury cohort study.

Objective: Prolonged post-concussive symptoms (PCS) affect a significant minority of patients withmild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The aetiology is multifactorial depending on preinjury as well as peri-injury and postinjury factors. In this study, we examine outcome from an emotional reserve perspective.

Daily management of attention dysfunction two-four years after brain injury and early cognitive rehabilitation with attention process training: a qualitative study.

The evaluation of intensive cognitive training is usually based on neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. A study of the subjective experience of cognitive training would provide another type of valuable information concerning the effects of rehabilitation. We used grounded theory methods to explore the experience and management of attention dysfunction in daily life two-four years after brain injury.

Facebook as communication support for persons with potential mild acquired cognitive impairment: A content and social network analysis study.

Introduction: Social media has the potential to increase social participation and support for the well-being of individuals with chronic medical conditions. To date, Facebook is the most popular social medium for different types of communication. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the potential use of Facebook as a means of communication for persons with potential Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairment (MACI), a non-progressive mild cognitive impairment after an acquired brain injury.

Social Media as a Communication Support for Persons with Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairment: A Social Network Analysis Study.

This study was conducted as a social network analysis of a Facebook group for Swedish speaking persons (1310 members) with perceived brain fatigue after an illness or injury to the brain to address the lack of research examining social media and the potential value of on-line support for persons with mild acquired cognitive impairment.

Fatigue and Cognitive Fatigability in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury are Correlated with Altered Neural Activity during Vigilance Test Performance.

Introduction: Fatigue is the most frequently reported persistent symptom following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but the explanations for the persisting fatigue symptoms in mTBI remain controversial. In this study, we investigated the change of cerebral blood flow during the performance of a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) by using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) MRI technique to better understand the relationship between fatigability and brain activity in mTBI.

Material And Methods: Ten patients (mean age: 37.

Sensor technology more than a support.

Background: This interview study is a part of a project that evaluated sensor technology as a support in everyday activities for patients with memory impairment.

Aim: To explore patients with memory impairment and their partners' experiences of using sensor technology in their homes.

Methods And Material: Five patients with memory impairment after stroke and three partners were interviewed.

Statistical process control: A feasibility study of the application of time-series measurement in early neurorehabilitation after acquired brain injury.

Background: Progress in early cognitive recovery after acquired brain injury is uneven and unpredictable, and thus the evaluation of rehabilitation is complex. The use of time-series measurements is susceptible to statistical change due to process variation.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using a time-series method, statistical process control, in early cognitive rehabilitation.

The effect of sampling bias on generalizability in intervention trials after brain injury.

Objective And Design: The first objective of this descriptive study was to explore the effect of strict inclusion and exclusion criteria on patient recruitment in cognitive rehabilitation; the second was to analyse the representativeness of study patients for all eligible stroke and traumatic brain injury patients referred to the department from September 2011 to November 2014.

Methods: The setting was multi-professional in- and outpatient brain injury rehabilitation in a university hospital. Participants were enrolled consecutively in acute (< 4 months) or sub-acute (4-12 months) phases of rehabilitation after injury.

How Do Persons with Mild Acquired Cognitive Impairment Use Information and Communication Technology and E-Services? Results from a Swedish National Survey.

Introduction: Mild acquired cognitive impairment is a term used to describe a sub-group of persons with mild cognitive impairment who are expected to reach a stable cognitive level over time. One tactic that can be considered for further developing treatment for this group is the use of information and communication technology and e-services. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current use of regular e-services and social media by this group as well as their user experiences.

First steps in designing an all-in-one ICT-based device for persons with cognitive impairment: evaluation of the first mock-up.

Background: This project Smart Assisted Living involving Informal careGivers++ (SALIG) intends to develop an ICT-based device for persons with cognitive impairment combined with remote support possibilities for significant others and formal caregivers. This paper presents the identification of the target groups' needs and requirements of such device and the evaluation of the first mock-up, demonstrated in a tablet.

Methods: The inclusive design method that includes end-users in the design process was chosen.

Post mTBI fatigue is associated with abnormal brain functional connectivity.

This study set out to investigate the behavioral correlates of changes in resting-state functional connectivity before and after performing a 20 minute continuous psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) for patients with chronic post-concussion syndrome. Ten patients in chronic phase after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with persisting symptoms of fatigue and ten matched healthy controls participated in the study. We assessed the participants' fatigue levels and conducted resting-state fMRI before and after a sustained PVT.

Cognitive reserve and persistent post-concussion symptoms--A prospective mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) cohort study.

Primary Objective: Having three or more persisting (i.e. > 3 months) post-concussion symptoms (PCS) affects a significant number of patients after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

An investigation of attention, executive, and psychomotor aspects of cognitive fatigability.

Objective: Self-perceived mental fatigue is a common presenting symptom in many neurological diseases. Discriminating objective fatigability from self-perceived mental fatigue might facilitate neuropsychological diagnosis and treatment programs. However clinically valid neuropsychological instruments suitable for assessment of fatigability are still lacking.

The protocol and design of a randomised controlled study on training of attention within the first year after acquired brain injury.

Background: To describe the design of the study aiming to examine intensive targeted cognitive rehabilitation of attention in the acute (<4 months) and subacute rehabilitation phases (4-12 months) after acquired brain injury and to evaluate the effects on function, activity and participation (return to work).

Methods/design: Within a prospective, randomised, controlled study 120 consecutive patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury were randomised to 20 hours of intensive attention training by Attention Process Training or by standard, activity based training. Progress was evaluated by Statistical Process Control and by pre and post measurement of functional and activity levels.

The first step in using a robot in brain injury rehabilitation: patients' and health-care professionals' perspective.

Purpose: To evaluate the usability of a mobile telepresence robot (MTR) in a hospital training apartment (HTA). The MTR was manoeuvred remotely and was used for communication when assessing independent living skills, and for security monitoring of cognitively impaired patients.

Method: Occupational therapists (OTs) and nurses received training in how to use the MTR.

Information and communication technology to support self-management of patients with mild acquired cognitive impairments: systematic review.

Background: Mild acquired cognitive impairment (MACI) is a new term used to describe a subgroup of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are expected to reach a stable cognitive level over time. This patient group is generally young and have acquired MCI from a head injury or mild stroke. Although the past decade has seen a large amount of research on how to use information and communication technology (ICT) to support self-management of patients with chronic diseases, MACI has not received much attention.

Effect of estrogen and testosterone replacement therapy on cognitive fatigue.

Both estrogen and testosterone insufficiency has been associated with reduced psychological well-being including fatigue. However, hormonal replacement studies on fatigue are rare. Therefore, we wanted to study the effect of testosterone and estrogen replacement therapy on cognitive fatigue and the relation between sex hormone levels and cognitive fatigue in oophorectomized women.