Clinical trial NCT03282500: Advances in Treatment: Examining the Effectiveness of a Behavioral Intervention.
Official title: Advances in Treatment: Examining the Effectiveness of a Behavioral Intervention.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Psychosocial Problems
Lead sponsor: Kessler Foundation
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-09-14
Enrollment: 46
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 9
Maximum age (years): 17
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental condition or the active control condition.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence a mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention will have on internalizing and externalizing problems in children and adolescents that have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). MBCT is a manualized intervention developed to increase social-emotional resiliency through mindful attention. Internalizing problems refer to a set of symptoms in which a person over-controls their emotions and results in social withdrawal, feelings of worthlessness, depression, and anxiety (Bloom et al., 2001). In contrast, externalizing problems refer to an under-control of emotions which results in conduct problems, impulsive behavior, and aggression. Social and emotional difficulties are prominent consequences of childhood TBI. Left untreated or undertreated, these problems often persist into adulthood, producing a wide range of challenges adapting in personal and vocational domains. At present, there are minimal non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches that effectively treat psychosocial deficits unique to TBI. Developing innovative, evidence based methods is essential in helping children recover from the injury.

Detailed description: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a significant, adverse life event. Among the estimated 634,000 pediatric TBI cases occurring annually in the United States (Langlois, Rutlan-Brown, \& Thomas, 2006), some reports suggest that approximately 50% of these children and adolescents will develop emotional and behavioral problems. For example, pediatric TBI is associated with negative psychosocial health outcomes including symptoms of internalizing such as depression, (Bloom et al., 2001; Fann, Hart, \& Schomer, 2009), withdrawal, and anxiety, and symptoms of externalizing such as impulsivity and aggression (Iversion, 2005; Cole et al., 2008). These maladaptive symptoms are typically correlated with problems in interpersonal relationships and overall social adjustment, contributing to further detriment to social and emotional development (Ganesalingam et al., 2011).

Despite these statistics, our understanding of how to best treat problematic psychosocial sequelae that follow pediatric TBI is largely uncertain and remains an understudied area in the literature. Indeed, relatively few empirically rigorous studies have been conducted examining effective treatment methods targeting internalizing and externalizing symptoms among youth with a TBI; yet, this is an essential area of study that needs to be a priority in research efforts (Semrud-Clikeman, 2010).

Given the beneficial outcomes found with other pediatric populations, it is expected that the MBCT intervention would have a similar, positive impact on adjustment among children and adolescents post TBI. Problems in impulsivity, emotional lability, and anxiety are experienced by many children and adolescents with a TBI, suggesting that a MBCT intervention, which focuses on improving attention, regulatory processes, and reducing stress, would be particularly advantageous for this population.

Youth that meet the inclusion / exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the control group (arts and crafts activities group) or the MBCT experimental condition. The treatments will be 75 minute, weekly sessions for 8 weeks.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Moderate or severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
* TBI occurred at least 6 months prior
* Age at enrollment: 9 to 17 years.
* Elevated internalizing or externalizing symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

* Substantial impairment in language ability

Primary outcomes:
measure: Internalizing Symptoms
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Externalizing Symptoms
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Adaptive Functioning
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Attention
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: East Hanover
country: United States
facility: Kessler Foundation
state: New Jersey
Study officials:
References:
citation: Bloom DR, Levin HS, Ewing-Cobbs L, Saunders AE, Song J, Fletcher JM, Kowatch RA. Lifetime and novel psychiatric disorders after pediatric traumatic brain injury. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001 May;40(5):572-9. doi: 10.1097/00004583-200105000-00017.
citation: Fann JR, Hart T, Schomer KG. Treatment for depression after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review. J Neurotrauma. 2009 Dec;26(12):2383-402. doi: 10.1089/neu.2009.1091.
citation: Cole WR, Gerring JP, Gray RM, Vasa RA, Salorio CF, Grados M, Christensen JR, Slomine BS. Prevalence of aggressive behaviour after severe paediatric traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj. 2008 Nov;22(12):932-9. doi: 10.1080/02699050802454808.
citation: Ganesalingam K, Yeates KO, Taylor HG, Walz NC, Stancin T, Wade S. Executive functions and social competence in young children 6 months following traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychology. 2011 Jul;25(4):466-76. doi: 10.1037/a0022768.
citation: Langlois J, Rutland-Brown W, Thomas K. Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2006.
citation: Semrud-Clikeman M. Pediatric traumatic brain injury: rehabilitation and transition to home and school. Appl Neuropsychol. 2010 Apr;17(2):116-22. doi: 10.1080/09084281003708985.
citation: Iverson GL. Outcome from mild traumatic brain injury. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2005 May;18(3):301-17. doi: 10.1097/01.yco.0000165601.29047.ae.