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Neurorehabilitation in brain tumours: evidences and suggestions for spreading of knowledge and research implementation
Blog, Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, Research

#NPsychPick of the Month: More evidence that early neurorehabilitation can improve the quality of life for brain tumour patients

Neurorehabilitation in brain tumours: evidences and suggestions for spreading of knowledge and research implementation via Current Opinion in Oncology.

Bartolo, M., Intiso, D., & Zucchella, C. (2023). Neurorehabilitation in brain tumours: evidences and suggestions for spreading of knowledge and research implementation. Current opinion in oncology, 35(6), 543–549.

Summary:

Drawing from the article “Neurorehabilitation in brain tumours: evidences and suggestions for spreading of knowledge and research implementation” by Bartolo, Intiso, and Zucchella, this review highlights the critical role of neurorehabilitation in addressing the sensory-motor and cognitive challenges caused by brain tumours and their treatments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Early evaluation through a multidisciplinary approach identifies diverse functional impairments.
  • Tailored rehabilitation programs address physical, cognitive, psychological, and social aspects, improving recovery and participation.
  • Collaborative care helps patients rebuild their lives and enhances their overall quality of life.

🚀 The Way Forward:

There’s a growing need to promote awareness of rehabilitation among neuro-oncologists and to drive high-quality research in this field.

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Efficacy of an Intensive Exposure Intervention for Individuals With Persistent Concussion Symptoms Following Concussion: A Concurrent Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study.
Blog, Brain Injury, Concussion, NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research, Symptoms

#NPsychPick of the Month: Efficacy of an Intensive Exposure Intervention for Individuals With Persistent Concussion Symptoms Following Concussion: A Concurrent Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design Study

Efficacy of an Intensive Exposure Intervention for Individuals With Persistent Concussion Symptoms Following Concussion: A Concurrent Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study.

King, Skye MSc; Stapert, Sven Z. PhD; Winkens, Ieke PhD; van der Naalt, Joukje PhD, MD; van Heugten, Caroline M. PhD; Rijkeboer, Marleen M. PhD

#NPsychPick of the Month

Abstract

Objective:

After a concussion, 1 in 3 patients report persistent symptoms and experience long-term consequences interfering with daily functioning, known as persistent concussion symptoms (PCS). Evidence suggests PCS is (partly) maintained by anxious thoughts about brain functioning, recovery, and experienced symptoms, leading to avoidance behaviors, which may prevent patients from meeting life demands. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a newly developed intensive exposure intervention for individuals with PCS after concussion aimed to tackle avoidance behavior.

Setting:

Participants took part in the intervention at the Maastricht University faculty.

Participants:

Four participants who experienced PCS after concussion partook in the exploratory study. Participants’ age ranged between 20 and 32 (mean = 26.5, SD = 5.9) years, with an average length of time after the concussion of 9.8 months.

Design:

A concurrent multiple-baseline single-case design was conducted. The baseline period (A phase) length was randomly determined across participants (3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks). The exposure intervention (B phase) was conducted by psychologists over a 4-week period and consisted of 3 stages: exploration (2 sessions), active exposure (12 sessions conducted over 1 week), and 2 booster sessions.

Main Measures:

Participants answered daily questions on a visual analog scale related to symptom experience, satisfaction with daily functioning, and degree of avoidance of feared activities. Additional outcomes included symptom severity, catastrophizing, fear of mental activity, anxiety, depression, and societal participation.

Results:

Tau-U yielded significant effects (P < .05) for all participants on all measures when comparing baseline and intervention phases. The pooled standardized mean difference was high for all measures (symptom experience = 0.93, satisfaction of daily functioning = 1.86, and activity avoidance = −2.05).

Conclusions:

The results show efficacy of the newly developed intensive exposure treatment for PCS after concussion, which is based on the fear avoidance model. Replication in a larger heterogeneous sample is warranted and needed.

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HCPC registered psychologists with expertise and experience in neurorehabilitation. We offer services such as neuropsychological assessment NPsych
Blog, Diagnosis, Health, Memory, NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research, Trauma

#NPsychPick of the Month: Applying EMDR therapy with clients who have impaired cognitive abilities, EMDR Therapy Quarterly, Summer 2023

Neuro EMDR: Applying EMDR therapy with clients who have impaired cognitive abilities

Author: Dr Jonathan Hutchins Simon Proudlock

EMDR therapy has been shown to be highly effective and time efficient in addressing trauma memories in both adults and children. However, there are questions about how EMDR can be effective with adults who have experienced a brain injury or are experiencing other cognitive difficulties. This article summarises some of the recent research within the area and proposes adaptations to the standard protocol that can be made to make best use of EMDR therapy in this population.

Introduction

Within the UK in 2019-2020 there were 356,669 UK admissions to hospital with acquired brain injury (ABI), or any brain injury that has occurred after birth including traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke or brain tumours, which is a 12% increase since 2005-2006 (Headway, 2023). In 2019, there were approximately 977 TBI admissions per day to UK hospitals, one every 90 seconds. The diagnostic criteria for TBI on the DSM V states that there must be an “impact to the head or other mechanisms of rapid movement or displacement of the brain within the skull with one or more of the following: loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, disorientation and confusion, neurological signs such as neuroimaging demonstrating injury or a worsening of a pre-existing seizure disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Click here to go to the full article…

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Brain Injury, eTechnologies, NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research

#NPsychPick of the Month: Use of smartphones and tablets after acquired brain injury to support cognition. Disabil. Rehabil.: Assist. Technol. April 2023

NPsych Pick of the Month: April 2023

Use of smartphones and tablets after acquired brain injury to support cognition

Journal: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2023

Authors: Simon Beaulieu-Bonneau and Laurie Dubois and Sarah-Jeanne Lafond-Desmarais and Seena Fortin and Gabrielle Forest-Dionne and Marie-Christine Ouellet and others.

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the use of mobile devices after acquired brain injury (ABI), from the perspectives of injured individuals and significant others, and to examine factors associated with mobile device use for cognition.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with 50 adults with moderate/severe traumatic brain injury or stroke (42% women; mean of 50.7 years old, 4.6 years post-ABI), and 24 significant others. Participants completed questionnaires on mobile technology, cognitive functioning and the impact of technology.

Results

Of 45/50 adults with ABI who owned a smartphone/tablet, 31% reported difficulties in using their device post-injury, 44% had received support, and 46% were interested in further training. Significant others reported motor/visual impairments and the fear of becoming dependent on technology as barriers for mobile device use, and 65% mentioned that their injured relative needed additional support. Mobile device use for cognition was common (64%), predicted in a regression model by lower subjective memory and more positive perception of the psychosocial impacts of technology, and also associated in univariate analyses with younger age, lower executive functioning, and greater use of memory strategies.

Conclusion

Using mobile devices for cognition is common post-ABI but remains challenging for a significant proportion. Developing training approaches may help supporting technology use.

  • IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

  • Using mobile electronic devices (smartphones and tablets) is common after acquired brain injury (ABI) but is challenging for a significant proportion of individuals.

  • After the ABI, close to 50% of individuals receive support in using their mobile device, mostly from family members and friends, but rarely from rehabilitation clinicians or technology specialists.

  • In a sample of 50 adults with ABI, more frequent use of mobile devices to support cognition was associated with poorer subjective memory and executive functioning, greater use of memory strategies, more positive perception of the psychosocial impacts of technology, and younger age.

Click here to go to the article

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NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research, TBI

#NPsychTeamResearch: Objects with motor valence affect the visual processing of human body parts: Evidence from behavioural and ERP studies. Lucilla C De Mattia. Cortex, Aug, 2022 via NPsych

NPsych Pick of the Month, April 2021: The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on the lives of people with traumatic brain injury: Do we need an increased focus on the assessment and enhancement of resilience? Campbell and Parrett. NPsych. The Neuropsychologist, 11, 2021.

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NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research, TBI

#NPsychTeamResearch: The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on the lives of people with TBI. Campbell & Parrett. The Neuropsychologist 11, 2021 via NPsych

NPsych Pick of the Month, April 2021: The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on the lives of people with traumatic brain injury: Do we need an increased focus on the assessment and enhancement of resilience? Campbell and Parrett. NPsych. The Neuropsychologist, 11, 2021.

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ABI, Brain Injury, Neuropsychological, NPsychPick, Outcome assessment, Recovery, Rehabilitation, TBI

Efficacy of Postacute Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries is Maintained in the Long-Term. J Int Neuropsych Soc, Jan 2020

Postacute NR programs provide participants with various tools, skills, and psychological perspectives that they continue to gain from and generalize to real life after program completion, reflecting transformational processes with stable long-term benefits

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Brain Injury, Economic evaluation, NPsychPick, Outcome assessment, Rehabilitation, Research, TBI, Trauma

Estimated Life-Time Savings in the Cost of Ongoing Care Following Specialist Rehabilitation for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the United Kingdom. J Head Tr Rehab, 2019 August

Specialist rehabilitation proved highly cost-efficient for severely disabled patients with TBI.

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