Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based Rehabilitation of Post-concussion Symptoms

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorSt. Olavs Hospital

About this trial

The investigators aim to evaluate effects of an outpatient rehabilitation program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy compared to usual care on function in patients with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and post-traumatic headache (PTH). This study builds on the investigators' previous observational studies and treatment studies in this patient group.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Having sustained a minimal HI or MTBI

PCS/ PTH had evolved within 1 week after the head trauma.

At least one post-concussion symptoms of at least moderate degree, that affects daily life.

> 6 months post-injury.

Disqualifiers

More than 5 years since last injury.

Symptoms are better explained by other conditions.

Severe communication problems, typically due to poor knowledge of Norwegian.

Severe psychiatric, neurological, somatic or substance abuse disorders that will make it problematic to function in a group and/or will complicate follow-up and outcome assessment.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Behavioral

    ACT-based rehabilitation is an interdisciplinary group rehabilitation which includes 7 sessions of group-based ACT therapy. Each session lasts 2½ hours and is offered twice a week. The ACT sessions will be based on a detailed intervention manual, developed specifically for group treatment. Each group will include a maximum of eight patients. The patients are asked to do homework between each ACT-group session.

Treatment groups

48 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Acceptance and Commitment TherapyExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: control groupNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Postcincussion symptom burden

The Rivermead postconcussion symptom questionnaire. The scale measures 13 common postconcussion somatic, emotional and cognitive symptoms on a range from 0 (no symptoms) to 64 (all symptoms graded as severe).

Time frame
3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention

Secondary outcomes

1

Headache

mean change in days of headache of at least moderate intensity, based on headache diary

Time frame
3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention
2

Work participation

change in the self-reported number of hours with paid work or ordinary studies per week

Time frame
3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention

Other outcomes

1

Change of level of cytokines in peripheral blood

Blood tests are collected before and after the intervention

Time frame
at baseline and at 3 months after the intervention

Sponsors and contacts

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St. Olavs Hospital

Lead sponsor

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Collaborator