Study A: Objective 1: To identify individuals with acquired brain damage (ABD) due to head injury, who have difficulty with problem solving. To accomplish this objective, we will; a) refine a battery of psychological and neuropsychological assessment measures (paper and pencil, interview, and video tape structured role-play); b) assess 112 subjects with and 56-112 subjects without ABD on this battery; c) ask 100 significant others of ABD group to rate persons with ABD on a series of rating scales; and d) develop impairment criteria using norms of scores of persons without ABD. Objective 2: Explore differences in problem solving skills in persons with and without ABD. Study B: Objective 1: Refine and deliver an innovative treatment program for difficulties with problem-solving to a group of 30 persons with ABD who are receiving standard outpatient psychology group treatment. The innovative treatment involves group-taught cognitive remediation strategies, role- play, and exercises. Groups comprise 4-6 patients and meet 1-2 times/week in modules of 8-12 weeks each. Total program involves 8-12 months of treatment. A control group of 30 subjects will receive standard outpatient group treatment only. Objective 2: Assess the effectiveness o the treatment program using assessment battery. Subjects will be assessed before and after treatment and at six months post completion of the treatment program.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD032943-02
Application #
2403500
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine Study Section (BEM)
Project Start
1996-08-07
Project End
2001-07-31
Budget Start
1997-08-01
Budget End
1998-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Physical Medicine & Rehab
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Bertisch, Hilary C; Long, Coralynn; Langenbahn, Donna M et al. (2013) Anxiety as a primary predictor of functional impairment after acquired brain injury: a brief report. Rehabil Psychol 58:429-35
Rath, Joseph F; Hradil, Amy L; Litke, David R et al. (2011) Clinical applications of problem-solving research in neuropsychological rehabilitation: addressing the subjective experience of cognitive deficits in outpatients with acquired brain injury. Rehabil Psychol 56:320-8
Rath, Joseph F; Langenbahn, Donna M; Simon, Dvorah et al. (2004) The construct of problem solving in higher level neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 19:613-35
Rath, J F; Simon, D; Langenbahn, D M et al. (2000) Measurement of problem-solving deficits in adults with acquired brain damage. J Head Trauma Rehabil 15:724-33