Goal-oriented Telehealth Rehabilitation of Executive Functioning for Veterans With Chronic TBI

Summary

Provision of interventions that address cognitive and emotional problems faced by Veterans with history of TBI pursuing community reintegration is an important concern for VA. Using telerehabilitation, the current project will help determine whether goal-directed training of attentional control functions via personally relevant activities will improve community integration for Veterans with history of TBI and cognitive difficulties. Findings may guide rehabilitation training towards providing services to maximize success in attaining complex functional goals in which Veterans can engage in skill strengthening 'where they are' (any location).

Detailed Description

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and comorbid conditions are prevalent in post-9/11 Veterans Chronic sequela of TBI can be highly debilitating due to deficits in the cognitive control processes, including attention, executive functions, and memory. Deficits in these cognitive control functions have been linked with difficulties in community reintegration, educational and occupational functioning, and are some of leading long-term disability causes among Veterans. As Veterans transition from military to community, many are interested in continuing to serve on the home front, with success in community, school, and work being essential to this goal. At present, there are no validated evidence-based executive function tele-rehabilitation interventions to support community reintegration for Veterans with chronic TBI/Polytrauma. This study aims to increase access and availability of evidence-based, in-person administered cognitive rehabilitation training for Veterans with chronic TBI interested in improving their community integration. The adaptations include: 1) video telehealth delivery, and 2) focus on Veteran-chosen community integration goals,. The objectives of this study are to investigate the feasibility and acceptability, as well as short (immediately post training), and longer-term (6 months post training) effectiveness of video telehealth cognitive rehabilitation training in 80 Veterans with history of chronic mild to moderate TBI and cognitive difficulties who are interested in improving their community integration. In a randomized, controlled intervention study, 80 Veterans with a history of mild to moderate TBI and residual cognitive difficulties will participate in telehealth GOALS and/or Brain Health Education - EDU interventions matched for time and intensity. Both groups will participate in pre and post training measurements at baseline and post training. Long-term follow-up will be at 6 months. Pre- and post-intervention and long term measurements will include performance on untrained: neuro-cognitive tests assessing targeted and non-targeted cognitive domains, individually defined goal attainment, and self-report measures of emotional regulation and daily functioning.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions