Citation

McCarron KK, Dasgupta MK, Campbell CA, Hull AE, Namazi S, Adams AH, Allen NJ, Bloeser KJ, Thomas LA, Reinhard MJ, Scholten JD, Schwartz BL. Psychiatr. Rehabil. J. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Mental Health Service.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University)

DOI

10.1037/prj0000361

PMID

31070444

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A subset of military veterans who have experienced both traumatic brain injury and psychological trauma present with chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms and experience persistent obstacles to social reintegration. This project aimed to develop a novel treatment targeting the unmet social rehabilitation needs of these veterans. Initial intervention development, feasibility, and outcome data are explored.

METHOD: Four treatment groups were conducted (n = 20). A treatment workbook was developed during Groups 1 and 2 (n = 10) and research data were collected from Groups 3 and 4 (n = 10).

RESULTS: There was a 0% attrition rate across all groups with unanimous requests for additional sessions. T test effect sizes were analyzed with bias-corrected Hedges' g. Improvements were observed on measures of depression (p =.026, g = 0.73), empathic perspective taking (p =.007, g = 0.94), social cognition (p =.002-.678, g = 0.27-1.30 across multiple measures), social relationships (p =.007, g = 1.50), traumatic brain injury-related quality of life (social: p =.014, g = 0.68, emotional: p =.009, g = 1.28) and nonsocial executive functioning (p =.006, g = 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Preliminary evidence from this exploratory study suggests that targeting multiple layers of social competence using a combined psychotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation approach holds promise. Larger, controlled studies are needed to further evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of this intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en