Cognitive, social, and health functioning of children with TBI engaged in a formal support program.

Background: Students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often demonstrate difficulties that impact their successful return to school (RTS).

Objective: To explore injury severity, age at injury, and time since injury as predictors for performance on measures of cognitive, social and health functioning for students' participating in a formal RTS cohort at the time of their enrollment in the School Transition After Traumatic Brain Injury (STATBI) research project.

Methods: Outcome measures across cognitive, social, and health domains were analyzed for association with the explanatory variables of interest using quantile regressions and ordinary least squares regression, as appropriate.

Factors impacting educational outcomes for students with traumatic brain injury in BrainSTEPS.

To describe child pre-injury and injury factors impacting post-injury educational outcomes for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) participating in a state-wide, school-based, school re-entry consultation program, BrainSTEPS in Pennsylvania. Retrospective analysis of a BrainSTEPS annual follow-up survey. A total of 296 parent surveys were completed.

Predictors of Treatment Response to a Psychoeducational Intervention for Anger in Chronic Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: The investigators examined predictors of treatment response to anger self-management training (ASMT) among patients with chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: A multicenter randomized clinical trial comprising 90 participants with moderate-severe TBI was conducted. Fifty-four participants who were randomly assigned to receive active treatment and provided complete data were included in the current secondary analysis.

Development of RehaBot-A Conversational Agent for Promoting Rewarding Activities in Users With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: In this article, we describe the development and preliminary testing of RehaBot-a chatbot that users communicate with via text messaging designed to augment behavioral activation (BA) treatment of reducing depression and increasing participation in individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Setting: Outpatient brain injury rehabilitation facility.

Participants: Outpatient brain injury clinicians and individuals with moderate to severe TBI.

Psychoeducational Interventions for Problematic Anger in Chronic Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Study of Treatment Enactment.

Objectives: Treatment enactment, a final stage of treatment implementation, refers to patients' application of skills and concepts from treatment sessions into everyday life situations. We examined treatment enactment in a two-arm, multicenter trial comparing two psychoeducational treatments for persons with chronic moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and problematic anger.

Methods: Seventy-one of 90 participants from the parent trial underwent a telephone enactment interview at least 2 months (median 97 days, range 64-586 days) after cessation of treatment.

Behavioral Activation Augmented With Mobile Technology for Depression and Anxiety in Chronic Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To describe and provide the rationale for a randomized controlled trial for depression or anxiety after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), which will test 2 treatments based on behavioral activation (BA), a promising model to promote both positive mood and increased activity in this population.

Design: Randomized controlled trial with masked outcome assessment.

Setting: Outpatient catchment area of 1 TBI treatment center.

Promoting mental health in traumatic brain injury using single-session Behavioural Activation and SMS messaging: A randomized controlled trial.

We compared two treatments for depression and/ or anxiety in chronic moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02061553). Fifty-nine participants were randomized 2:1 to a single session of Behavioural Activation followed by 8 weeks of daily SMS (text) messages in the form of implementation intentions supporting individualized goals for increased rewarding/ meaningful activities (INT), or a single (attention control) session focused on the importance of motivation followed by 8 weeks of motivational SMS messages (MOT).

Self-Report of Outpatient Therapy Dose at 6 and 12 Months After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: Determine agreement between self-reported dose and dose reflected in administrative records of outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies at 6 and 12 months after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), for the purpose of examining accuracy and predictors of accuracy of self-reported health care utilization in this population.

Design: Secondary analysis of survey used in a larger study; participants were queried about therapy doses using a structured interview, either alone or assisted by relatives if they so chose, with responses compared to administrative records.

Setting: Rehabilitation center providing outpatient TBI therapies.

Examining a Statewide Educational Consulting Program for Pediatric Brain Injury.

This study describes characteristics of students with acquired brain injury enrolled in a statewide educational consultation program and the program's support activities. Utilizing deidentified data from a statewide brain injury school consultation program, descriptive analyses of demographic and injury characteristics, including medical diagnosis (concussion/mild traumatic brain injury [TBI], moderate-severe TBI, and non-TBI), referral characteristics, educational placement, and the types of program activities were undertaken. 70% of students were referred for concussions/mild TBI and students were infrequently referred by medical professionals.

Anger Self-Management Training for Chronic Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To test efficacy of 8-session, 1:1 treatment, anger self-management training (ASMT), for chronic moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Setting: Three US outpatient treatment facilities.

Participants: Ninety people with TBI and elevated self-reported anger; 76 significant others (SOs) provided collateral data.

Goal intention reminding in traumatic brain injury: A feasibility study using implementation intentions and text messaging.

Objective: To examine feasibility of participant-created implementation intentions, delivered as text message reminders, to enhance goal-related activity in persons with chronic, moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial on effects of 8 weeks receiving goal-related implementation intentions (GI) compared to control condition, educational review regarding goals (GR).

Participants: Eight persons with moderate/severe TBI nearing discharge from intensive outpatient brain injury treatment.

How Do Intensity and Duration of Rehabilitation Services Affect Outcomes From Severe Traumatic Brain Injury? A Natural Experiment Comparing Health Care Delivery Systems in 2 Developed Nations.

Objective: To determine the effects of inpatient and outpatient treatment intensity on functional and emotional well-being outcomes at 1 year after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Prospective, quasiexperimental study comparing outcomes in a U.S.

Anger self-management in chronic traumatic brain injury: protocol for a psycho-educational treatment with a structurally equivalent control and an evaluation of treatment enactment.

Anger and irritability are important and persistent clinical problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Treatment options include medications, behavioral modification, and psychotherapies, but some are impractical and none have proven efficacy with this population. We describe a randomized multi-center clinical trial testing a novel, one-on-one, 8-session psychoeducational treatment program, Anger Self-Management Training (ASMT), designed specifically for people with TBI who have significant cognitive impairment.

Anger self-management training for people with traumatic brain injury: a preliminary investigation.

Objective: : To examine the feasibility and gather preliminary data on the efficacy of a fully manualized, 8-session, psychoeducational treatment for irritability and anger after traumatic brain injury (TBI), called anger self-management training (ASMT).

Participants: : A total of 10 persons with moderate to severe, chronic TBI with significant cognitive impairment and elevated levels of anger and irritability participated in the study; 8 had significant others (SOs) who participated in portions of the treatment and provided pre- and posttreatment measures; 1 SO provided only data.

Main Outcome Measure: : Two subscales of the State-Trait Anger Expression Scale-Revised and Brief Anger-Aggression Questionnaire.

Professional development in TBI for educators: the importance of context.

Effective instructional and behavioral support strategies implemented by trained educators can help mitigate the academic and behavioral challenges associated with childhood brain injury. However, the training provided by university teacher preparation programs is clearly inadequate, a problem that cuts across the professions that work with school-aged students. Educators need training in methods validated for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and in adapting strategies validated for students with other disabilities.

The effects of bromocriptine on attention deficits after traumatic brain injury: a placebo-controlled pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of bromocriptine on a variety of aspects of attention, ranging from laboratory-based impairment measures to caregiver ratings and work productivity, in individuals after traumatic brain injury.

Design: Twelve adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and attention complaints in the postacute phase of recovery were enrolled in a 6-wk double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of bromocriptine, titrated to a dose of 5 mg twice a day. A wide range of attentional measures was administered weekly, including computerized and paper-and-pencil tests of attention, videotaped records of individual work in a distracting environment, real-time observational scoring of attentiveness in a classroom environment, and caregiver and clinician ratings of attentiveness.

Internet use and interest among individuals with traumatic brain injury: A consumer survey.

Purpose: To examine experiences among individuals in the USA with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding their access to and use of the Internet, problems encountered, and desire for improved Internet access and skills.

Method: An in-depth survey was administered as a semi-structured interview to 80 individuals at least 3 months post moderate to severe TBI.

Results: Two-thirds of respondents reported having a computer at home, but only half had access to the Internet.

Executive function as a predictor of inattentive behavior after traumatic brain injury.

Emerging evidence from recent studies using laboratory and naturalistic attention tasks suggests that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have a deficit mainly in strategic control of attention. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that inattentive behavior after TBI could be predicted by performance on psychometric measures of executive function. A group of 37 individuals with moderate to severe TBI were assessed with previously validated naturalistic measures of attention.

Executive function and self-awareness of "real-world" behavior and attention deficits following traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between executive function and awareness of real-world behavioral and attentional dysfunction in persons with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and uninjured controls.

Design: Observational 2-group study.

Participants: Thirty-six persons with moderate to severe TBI and residual cognitive deficits, recruited from therapy programs and the community, and 30 uninjured control participants of similar age, education, gender, and race.

Portable electronic devices as memory and organizational aids after traumatic brain injury: a consumer survey study.

Objective: To ascertain consumer experiences and attitudes regarding the use of portable electronic devices as memory and organizational aids after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Survey study.

Setting: Post-acute TBI rehabilitation programs, research registries.

Psychostimulant use in the rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Psychostimulants are used commonly in the rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), despite the dearth of well-controlled studies of their effects. The available literature suggests that these drugs predominantly affect the speed of cognitive processing and certain observational ratings of mood and behavior. Effects on sustained attention, distractibility, and memory are less clear.

Internet resources for traumatic brain injury: A selective review of websites for consumers.

This article provides a selective review of brain injury resources found on the Internet. It is geared toward the needs of survivors of brain injury and their families. Provided are listings of websites that focus on brain injury, those with sections pertaining to brain injury, and those with brain injury information found by searching the site.