Remotely Deployed TBI Study
a study on Brain Injuries
Summary
- Eligibility
- for people ages 24-65 (full criteria)
- Location
- at San Francisco, California and other locations
- Dates
- study startedestimated completion
- Principal Investigator
- Anthony J-W Chen
Description
Summary
Injury to the brain can change the core of a person's being, affecting brain functions necessary to accomplish important goals in a complex world. Deficits in attention, working memory, and other aspects of goal-directed cognition affect a broad range of pursuits in everyday life, and are among the most prevalent and long-lasting consequences of brain injuries. The objective of this research is to develop remotely deployed training tools that target the most common, persistent and debilitating cognitive functions affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI); test the potential effects of the intervention and compare these effects to an active comparison intervention; and determine the neurocognitive and functional effects of computer-assisted remote training.
Official Title
Remotely Deployed Training for Cognitive Impairment Associated With TBI
Details
The objective of this research is to develop remotely deployed computer-assisted training interventions, including software tools and training protocols, to address cognitive neurologic impairment associated with TBI, improving cognitive functioning and thus increasing quality of life. These tools will be built on a strong foundation of cognitive neuroscience, empiric evidence and advanced clinical care, while addressing practical issues such as distance and therapist/patient time limitations. This research involves two phases: User testing and Assessment/Training.
Assessment and Training Assessments: The potential effects of remotely administered training will be assessed using neuropsychological tests of complex attention, executive function and memory, a test of functioning in challenging real world situations involving multitasking and goal management, and questionnaires assessing cognitive and emotional functioning in personal life.
Neurocognitive testing and functional evaluation sessions take 2- 3 hours each, or about 5 hours combined. The subject is free to take breaks throughout testing sessions, which will take place over one or two days. Subjects participate in assessments up to four times (Baseline, after 6-8 weeks; 12-16 weeks; and at 18-24 weeks), or up to 20 hours (5 hours x 4 time points). The investigators anticipate about 30 subjects will participate in assessments and training.
Experimental Intervention I: The Pathfinder training protocol will include supervised attentional regulation training sessions, either in-person or via the VA's video tele-health (VTEL) system, and home play of a computer game. Trainers will also call subjects between each supervised session to (i) check that patients are initiating home play (and help problem-solve or provide motivation, if necessary), and (ii) encourage transfer and generalization of learning, as per protocol. Home play will be configured to allow for about 35 minutes of play each day between supervised sessions. After the end of home game play, some additional time will be allowed for continued practice and application of trained skills in personal life.
Experimental Intervention II: Brain Health Education will consist of training sessions, either in-person or via the VA's video tele-health (VTEL) system, and home play of a computer game. The Brain Health Education protocol will be based on a curriculum already developed, designed to facilitate learning of TBI-relevant information. Trainers will also call subjects between each supervised session to (i) check that patients are initiating home play (and help problem-solve or provide motivation, if necessary). Home play will be configured to allow for about 35 minutes of play each day between supervised sessions. After the end of home game play, some additional time will be allowed for continued practice and review of TBI-relevant information.
Subjects will participate in either one or both experimental interventions, which are matched for time commitment. Participation in interventions will include weekly in-person or remote 1-2 hour sessions with a trainer over a period of 6-16 weeks. In addition to weekly training sessions, study activities will include about 15 minutes of weekly telephone contact with the trainer and about 35 minutes a day of playing a computerized game at home during the same period. Therefore, total training time range is approximately 43-93 hours, depending on whether participation includes one or both interventions.
Keywords
Brain Injury traumatic brain injury cognition rehabilitation attentional regulation working memory Brain Injuries Neural Pathfinder Training Brain Health Education
Eligibility
You can join if…
Open to people ages 24-65
- Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury
- Age 24-65
- Mild residual dysfunction in executive control
- In the chronic, stable phase of recovery (>6 months from injury)
- On stable psychoactive medications (> 30 days)
- Able and willing to participate in training and assessments.
You CAN'T join if...
- Unstable medical, neurologic or psychiatric conditions
- Severe cognitive dysfunction
- Ongoing illicit drug or alcohol abuse
- Severe depression, severe anxiety or severe PTSD precluding participation
- Poor English comprehension.
Locations
- San Francisco VA Medical Center
San Francisco California 94121 United States - VA Northern California Health Care System
Martinez California 94553 United States
Lead Scientist at UCSF
Details
- Status
- in progress, not accepting new patients
- Start Date
- Completion Date
- (estimated)
- Sponsor
- VA Northern California Health Care System
- ID
- NCT01882244
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Last Updated