[WEB SITE] Research Reports – Mental fatigue after traumatic brain injury – CNS

Research Reports – Mental fatigue after traumatic brain injury

NeuroRehabilitation. 2015 Apr 16

Johansson B(1), Rönnbäck L(1)

BACKGROUND: Mental fatigue is one of the most significant post-traumatic brain
injury symptoms. It is currently not possible to objectively identify.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether a complex computer cognitive test with
load on endurance, processing speed and attention were more demanding for
participants suffering from mental fatigue after brain injury compared with a
control group.
METHOD: Seventy-six subjects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and 45 healthy
controls were included in the study. All subjects with mTBI had been suffering
from mental fatigue for six months or more. Mental fatigue was screened using the
Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS). Cognitive function was measured for information
processing speed and working memory, and with a novel computer test.
RESULTS: The mTBI group rated MFS significantly higher than the control group.
The results revealed a significantly slower information processing speed for the
mTBI subjects and a poorer performance on the working memory test. The computer
test revealed a less efficient performance over time for the TBI subjects
compared to the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a less efficient performance over time in
complex and demanding cognitive tasks for individuals experiencing from mental
fatigue after brain injury.

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Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Guide – Research Reports – Mental fatigue after traumatic brain injury.

[ARTICLE] The Effect of Occupation-based Cognitive Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability among people younger than 35 years in the United States. Cognitive difficulty is a common consequence of TBI. To address cognitive deficits of patients with TBI, various cognitive rehabilitation approaches have been used for the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the overall effect of occupation-based cognitive rehabilitation on patients’ improvement in cognitive performance components, activity of daily living (ADL) performance, and values, beliefs and spirituality functions of patients with TBI.

The papers used in this study were retrieved from the Cochrane Database, EBSCO (CINAHL), PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science published between 1997 and 2014. The keywords for searching were cognitive, rehabilitation, occupation, memory, attention, problem-solving, executive function, ADL, values, beliefs, spirituality, randomized controlled trials and TBI. For the meta-analysis, we examined 60 effect sizes from nine studies that are related to the occupation-based cognitive rehabilitation on persons with TBI. In persons with TBI, overall mental functions, ADL, and values, beliefs and spirituality were significantly improved in the groups that received occupation-based cognitive rehabilitation compared with comparison groups (mean d = 0.19, p < .05).

Evidence from the present meta-analytic study suggests that occupation-based cognitive rehabilitation would be beneficial for individuals with TBI for improving daily functioning and positively be able to affect their psychosocial functions. Collecting many outcome measures in studies with relatively few participants and the final data are less reliable than the whole instrument itself. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of specific occupation-based cognitive rehabilitations programmes in order to improve consistency among rehabilitation providers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

via The Effect of Occupation-based Cognitive Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials – Park – 2015 – Occupational Therapy International – Wiley Online Library.

[THESIS] Bridge/Adapt: A Systematic Cognitive Rehabilitation Curriculum -Full Text PDF

Abstract

Cognitive impairment, including deficits in memory, attention, visual perception, executive functioning, and self-awareness, is a common consequence of acquired brain injury (ABI). Subsequently, these cognitive impairments result in functional impairments in daily life activities for clients with ABI.

Rehabilitation efforts are categorized under two broad approaches: remediation and adaptation. Computer-assisted cognitive retraining (CACR) is a remediation approach using a computer platform to deliver cognitive exercises. CACR therapy can lead to improvements in memory and attention for adults with chronic ABI. However, memory and attention improvements from CACR may not carry over to functional improvements in occupational performance. Research suggested that therapy using an adaptive approach can yield functional improvements.

The purpose of this project was to design a systematic cognitive retraining curriculum, Bridge/Adapt, to bridge the gap between memory and attention-skill gains from CACR to functional improvements in occupational performance using adaptive strategies. The Bridge/Adapt curriculum incorporates the cognitive orientation of occupational performance (CO-OP) intervention approach, multicontext approach, and goal oriented attentional self-regulation training.

The curriculum includes eight modules that provide grading options so that occupational therapists can choose which difficulty level best suits the client. Clients practice adaptive strategies during simulations of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), including financial management, appointment scheduling, and grocery shopping, utilizing the three themes in Bridge/Adapt: salience, context, and hierarchy. Clients use salience to choose meaningful goals to work on at home. Context refers to clients working on goals in varying environments. Lastly, clients work on tasks that increase in complexity with the hierarchical theme.

Full Text PDF

 

ARTICLE: Effectiveness of Commercial Gaming-Based Virtual Reality Movement Therapy on Functional Recovery of Upper Extremity in Subacute Stroke Patients – Full Text

…To investigate the effectiveness of commercial gaming-based virtual reality (VR) therapy on the recovery of paretic upper extremity in subacute stroke patients…

via KoreaMed Synapse.

PDF: Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Assessment to Treatment

Cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury: Assessment to Treatment