Acceptance and commitment therapy for people with depressive and anxiety symptoms following acquired brain injury: Results of the BrainACT randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an adapted ACT intervention (BrainACT) in people who experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms following acquired brain injury.

Methods: The study is a multicentre randomized controlled two-arm parallel trial. In total, 72 people who survived a stroke or traumatic brain injury were randomized into an eight-session ACT or control (i.

Psychometric properties of two instruments assessing catastrophizing and fear-avoidance behavior in mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Psychometrically sound measures of catastrophizing about symptoms and fear avoidance behavior are needed to further applications of the fear-avoidance model in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) for research and clinical purposes. To this end, two questionnaires were adapted (minor), the Postconcussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-CS) and the Fear of Mental Activity Scale (FMA). This study aimed to investigate the factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent and construct validity of two adapted questionnaires in a sample of participants with mTBI compared to participants with orthopedic injury and healthy adults.

Hypersensitivity to Noise and Light Over 1 Year After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Study on Self-Reported Hypersensitivity and Its Influence on Long-Term Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate (1) the prevalence of self-reported sensory hypersensitivity (noise [NS] and light [LS]) over 1 year after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in adults and (2) the impact of NS and LS measured 2 weeks after injury on long-term outcomes 12 months postinjury, while controlling for postconcussion symptoms.

Setting: Participants were recruited from 6 hospitals in the south of the Netherlands and were tested 4 times (2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postinjury), using self-report questionnaires.

Participants: In total, 186 mTBI participants (diagnosed using WHO [World Health Organization]/EFNS [European Federation of Neurological Societies] criteria at the neurology/emergency department) and 181 participants with a minor orthopedic injury in their extremities (control group).

Do fear and catastrophizing about mental activities relate to fear-avoidance behavior in a community sample? An experimental study.

: Healthy people often experience headache, cognitive failures, or mental fatigue. Some people even experience these symptoms on a level comparable to patients with mild spectrum brain injuries. In these individuals, the fear-avoidance model explains symptoms as a consequence of catastrophizing and fear-avoidance toward mental activities.

Long-term psychosocial outcome following mild traumatic brain injury and minor stroke: a direct longitudinal comparison.

Background And Purpose: Research suggests comparable long-term psychosocial outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and minor stroke, but no direct comparison has been made. This study aimed to directly compare psychosocial outcome over time in persons with mTBI and minor stroke.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective longitudinal cohort study, community-dwelling persons with mTBI (n = 182) and minor stroke (n = 48) were assessed at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-injury.

Relevance of the Fear-Avoidance Model for Chronic Disability after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Previous studies convincingly suggest that the biopsychosocial fear-avoidance model (FAM) may be of added value in understanding chronic disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this model, persistent symptoms occur as a result of catastrophizing and fear-avoidance regarding initial symptoms, leading to depression, reduced mental activity, and greater disability in daily functioning. This study examined the FAM in a large English-speaking TBI sample.

Psychological factors after stroke: Are they stable over time?

Objective: Psychological factors influence stroke outcomes, such as participation and quality of life. Although important for clinical practice, not much is known about the temporal stability of these factors. This study explored whether psychological factors are stable post-stroke.

Does the fear avoidance model explain persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury?

Background: A minority of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) experience a persistent symptom complex also known as post-concussion syndrome. Explanations for this syndrome are still lacking.

Objective: To investigate if the fear avoidance model, including catastrophizing thoughts and fear avoidance behaviour, poses a possible biopsychosocial explanation for lingering symptoms and delay in recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) with special focus on mTBI.

Explaining fatigue in multiple sclerosis: cross-validation of a biopsychosocial model.

Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but its pathogenesis is still poorly understood and consequently evidence-based treatment options are limited. Bol et al. (J Behav Med 33(5):355-363, 2010) suggested a new model, which explains fatigue in MS from a biopsychosocial perspective, including cognitive-behavioral factors.