Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries, Traumatic"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether NNZ-2566 is safe and effective in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The Midwest Advocacy Project (MAP) is a community-based multiple-site randomized practical behavioral trial of advocacy skill training for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), their families, and significant others. The purpose is to evaluate the efficacy of a 4-session advocacy training program to improve behavioral advocacy skills compared to self-directed advocacy training of the same session frequency. Groups will be randomly assigned to either a programmed group or a self-directed group in collaboration with the Brain Injury Associations of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin each year over the 5 year study period. The primary outcome is pre-post measures of written and verbal advocacy skill measured by the Advocacy Behavior Rating Scale. It is hypothesized that subjects who receive programmed advocacy training will show greater positive change on pre-post measures of advocacy skill measures than subjects receiving self-directed training.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been called the signature injury of the Iraq War. This pilot study investigated family needs of 6 rural families caring for a Veteran with TBI. Two Veterans had moderate TBI and all had comorbid post traumatic stress disorder diagnoses. The veterans were 1 to 5 years post-injury. Families were reluctant to include others in helping the family because of privacy concerns, desire for independence, and negative employment repercussions if the extent of the TBI deficit became known in the community. Most were still employed, despite TBI deficits. Despite having previously received information, families still had substantial needs for information about the condition and its prognosis and sequelae (e.g., why things happen, unsafe/frightening behaviors, work, finances, communication changes) and the availability and types of services (e.g., who to contact, benefits, help needed)

The primary aims of this project are to examine the feasibility and relative efficacy of two models of on-line intervention for families of children with traumatic brain injury: one, a model emphasizing cognitive appraisals and problem solving skills; the other, emphasizing linking families to resources and providing professionally-moderated peer support.

Unfavorable outcomes (UO) are seen in 15 to 20% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Early identification of patients at risk for UO is crucial for suitable management to be initiated, increasing their chances for a return to a normal life. The investigators previously developed a diagnostic tool enabling early identification (8 to 21 days after the injury) of patients likely to develop UO. In the present study, the investigators examined the value and beneficial effects of early multidimensional management (MM) on prognosis. The investigators used a diagnostic tool to classify 221 mTBI patients as UO (97) or FO (favorable outcome) (124). Patients whose initial risk factors point to UO are at risk of developing post-concussion syndrome (PCS). UO patients were randomized into 2 groups: a group that underwent MM (cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation) (34) and a group with no specific management (46). At 6 months, these 2 groups were compared and the impact of MM on outcome was assessed. Among patients initially classified as FO (101), 95% had FO at 6 months and only 5 had PCS as defined by DSM-IV classification. Of the UO patients who received MM, 94% had no PCS 6 months after injury, whereas 52% of the UO patients who did not receive MM had persistent PCS. The effect of MM on the recovery of patients at 6 months, once adjusted for the main confounding factors, was statistically significant (p<0.001). These results show that the initiation of MM after early identification of at-risk mTBI patients can considerably improves their prognosis.

This study will establish the acceptability and feasibility of enrolling and retaining heavy drinking Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in an 8-week, randomized cross-over design trial of active VR working memory retraining (WMR). This study will also seek to establish the efficacy of active VR-WMR to increase performance in executive function.

The overall aim of this project is to investigate the clinical utility of the Andago System, a CE certified mobile bodyweight supporting walking robot, in children with neuromotor disorders. Clinical utility encompasses practicability, acceptability, appropriateness, and accessibility. In this study, the investigators would like to investigate several aspects of clinical utility that belong to the first three components.

Significant morbidity, mortality, and related costs are caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). A simple, effective, and lightweight device worn by athletes or war fighters in the field, designed to mitigate TBI resulting from blast trauma or concussive events, would save lives, and the huge costs currently being experienced for life-treatment of surviving victims. An externally-worn medical device that applies mild jugular compression according to the principle of the Queckenstedt Maneuver (the Device) is being developed by Q30 Labs, LLC (Q30). Initial research suggests that the Device has the potential to reduce the likelihood of TBI. The rationale for testing wideband absorbance and Oto-acoustics emissions (OAE) is that the investigators need a physiologic, non-invasive method to evaluate the brain responses to mild jugular compression across multiple age groups. To determine this with MR imaging is currently cost prohibitive. The investigators pilot data from the parent IRB indicates a consistent response measured via wideband absorbance in young adults. Therefore, a preliminary step to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the neck collar device is to employ this technology across a wide range of ages.

This study investigates the efficacy of a novel neurorehabilitation program combining noninvasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS) and cognitive therapy, on cognitive function and quality of life in individuals with blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI).

Today's hospitals need innovative solutions to help patients transition from our care to self-management at home. The vast majority of the patients seen in Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital and associated clinics leave our care with persistent and life-altering challenges - behavioral, cognitive, emotional and/or physical. The period of time immediately following discharge is an under-addressed stage within the continuum of care. The investigators are researching solutions to help patients in this transition to self-care and believe that multiplayer gaming paradigms may be a promising innovation to facilitate this transition. The investigators believe that Dr. Jane McGonigal's SuperBetter, and positive play games like it, are promising novel interventions that could make a positive difference in the ability of our patients to successfully transition to self care after discharge from therapeutic care. Specifically, the investigators will evaluate feasibility of use of such a game by mild to moderate brain injured individuals and to record pilot data to help us plan a clinical effectiveness follow up study. Our goal is to finish this study with an intervention tailored for use within the clinical continuum of care and sufficient pilot data to prepare for a randomized clinical control trial of this intervention.