Combining Attention and Metacognitive Training to Improve Goal Directed Behavior in Veterans With TBI

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byJulia K. Waid-Ebbs, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury continue to deal with symptoms that interfere with their ability to engage in productive activities. In combination with other psychosocial difficulties, impairments are found in cognition, such as attention and executive function. Few interventions are available to treat attention in Veterans with mTBI. Of the interventions available, none rigorously train attention combined with strategy training. This project will innovatively combine a strategy training called Goal Management Training with computerized attention training to improve tests of problem solving, attention and functional tasks compared to a control group.

Research Team

Julia K. Waid-Ebbs, PhD

Principal Investigator

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Veterans with a diagnosis mTBI between the ages of 18 to 55, that demonstrate a deficit in attention, pass effort testing and have not changed psychotropic medication within the past two weeks.

all Veterans who have served in OIF-OEF-OND with single- (at least brief loss of conscious) or multiple (with at least alteration of consciousness) mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) during deployment, who seek services at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF-VHS).

TBI must have suffered their injury at least 6 months prior to study enrollment and currently be in stable neurological condition.

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Treatment Details

Interventions

Attention Training (Behavioural Intervention)
Brain Health Workshop (Behavioural Intervention)
Goal Management Training (Behavioural Intervention)
National geographic movies (Behavioural Intervention)

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: GMT plus attentionExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

GMT consists of 2-hour, 10 weekly sessions using an interactive Power Point presentations. Attention training consists of 2-hour computerized attention training using Attention Process Training III and Brain HQ.

Group II: BHW plus moviesPlacebo Group2 Interventions

Brain Health Workshop consists of 2-hour, 10 weekly sessions using Power Point presentations and national geographic movies (2-hour, 10 weekly sessions).