Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries, Traumatic"

This is an exploratory qualitative interview study being conducted with a primary objective of examining perceptions held by active military and veterans regarding help-seeking attitudes and mental health beliefs which influence the decision to consent or decline participation in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) clinical trials. Active duty military and/or veterans aged 18 years and older who consent to participate (N = 50), or have recently declined participation (N = 50), in an INTRuST affiliated outpatient clinical trial for deployment-related PTSD or TBI will be recruited. Participants who consent to participate in an INTRuST clinical trial (Group 1) will be interviewed once at the beginning the of the clinical trial, and again following participation in the trial. Participants who decline participation in an INTRuST affiliated outpatient clinical trial (Group 2) will be interviewed once. For participants in both groups, study participation will initiate within 1 month of referral to study. Total duration of study participation is based on the specific clinical trial that the participant is recruitment from; the longest trial is estimated to be 24 weeks or less. Semi-structured qualitative individual interviews will be conducted to carry out a thematic analysis of the data exploring familial, social and institution-level constructs which may influence the subjective experience of the research treatment process.

The purpose of this study is to assess for vasospasm using Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and brain injury biomarkers, and evaluate neurocognitive outcome data in pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients who have experienced a mild to severe head injury.

The goal of this phase of the project is to identify the elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) that should be targeted to provide the most influence on older adults' behavior (or other stakeholders) to purchase and wear protective headwear. The investigators also intend to determine the format of communication (social marketing/academic detailing) that is most influential for different key stakeholder groups. The TPB has been useful in understanding behavior change related to exercise and adaptive equipment use (such as grab bars, canes, hip protectors); in understanding how a person's attitudes, subjective/social norms and perceived behavioral control inform the development of intention that leads to behavior change.

Background: - Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease caused in part by head injury. The brain changes from CTE can only be seen at autopsy. Researchers want to test a new brain scan to help diagnose CTE in living patients. Objective: - To determine if a new type of brain scan can detect changes that occur in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Eligibility: - Adults age 18 60 with previous head injury or participation in certain sports. Design: Participants will be screened with: Physical exam Blood and urine tests Tests of thinking, mood, and memory 30-minute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan. A magnetic field and radio waves take pictures of the brain. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a metal cylinder. They will get earplugs for the loud knocking sounds. Visit 1: Participants will have a 70-minute PET scan of the brain with a small amount of a radioactive chemical. That will be injected through an intravenous tube (catheter) in each arm. A catheter will also be put into an artery at the wrist or elbow. Participants will lie on a bed that slides in and out of a donut-shaped scanner. A plastic mask may be molded to their face and head. Vital signs and heart activity will be checked before and during the scan. Blood and urine will be taken before and after the scan. Participants will be checked on by phone the next day. Visit 2: Participants will repeat Visit 1 with a different chemical and no artery catheter. Visit 3: Participants may have a spinal tap. Some fluid will be removed by needle between the bones in the back.

Procure blood specimens from individuals presenting to the emergency department with suspected brain injury.

Neuroglobin has been described as a marker of traumatic brain injury. Nogo-A plays an important role in mediating neuroanatomical plasticity and functional recovery following traumatic brain injury. The investigators sought to examine the changes in serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A concentrations in patients with traumatic brain injury during the initial 96-h posttraumatic period and assessed the relation of neuroglobin and Nogo-A to Glasgow Coma Score and prognosis of such patients with traumatic brain injury.

The study investigates whether the use of eye movement recordings can provide a reliable diagnostic of previously undiagnosed mild traumatic brain injury (blast and impact) in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant injury in the Armed Forces, but it is also common in the general population. This condition poses significant challenges for both diagnosis and therapy. However, the biological and neurological reasons for TBI remain poorly understood and are in need of more in-depth study. The National Institutes of Health is collaborating with several military medical centers and research units in a multi-year study of TBI in civilian and military patients. In anticipation of these research projects, the Clinical Center s Rehabilitation Medicine Department needs to become familiar with the instruments they will likely need to evaluate this group of subjects. Objectives: To evaluate potential test instruments in patients with TBI. To evaluate patient tolerance of an extensive battery of assessments and the time required to complete the assessments. To improve staff competencies on new or novel assessments of the TBI patient population Eligibility: Individuals 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury in the past 5 years. Healthy volunteers 18 years of age and older who have had no instances of significant head trauma. Design: This study requires approximately 3 days of outpatient or inpatient evaluation. Subjects will undergo cognitive and neuropsychological tests, physical assessments, speech and language evaluation, and balance testing. Tests will be given orally, in writing, and on computers. The testing will be done in blocks of 2 to 3 hours, with rest periods as needed. Subjects may undergo any or all of the following assessments and screening tools, as determined by the researchers: Cognitive, quality of life, and functional assessments Speech, language, and swallowing assessments Physical functional performance and environment assessments (including balance testing) Subjects will remain under the care of their own health care providers while participating in this study.

This study will use MRI imaging, cognitive testing and outcome questionnaires to determine how the brain recovers and reorganizes after an injury.

The objective of this prospective study is to evaluate the reliability of plain x-rays vs.cranial computed tomography as a screening method for skull fractures and its prognostic value for intracranial bleeding (ICB).