About this trial
Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly experience cognitive impairments including attention and executive function deficits that interfere with their ability to engage in productive personal and social activities. Of the limited interventions available to address cognition, none rigorously train attention beyond strategy management. This study will evaluate an innovatively combined strategy training known as Goal Management Training plus computerized attention training in Veterans with mTBI/PTSD. Preliminary testing suggests an effectiveness in improving problem solving, attention and functional tasks in a small number of Veterans. Considering these promising results, cost effectiveness, and the demand for access to care from Veterans living in rural areas, a Randomized Controlled Trial will determine and compare the effects of this treatment, administered either in-person or via telehealth, on executive function, attention, other aspects of cognition and real life functional tasks.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Veterans who have served in OIF-OEF-OND and have been diagnosed with both a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the joint criteria of the Veterans' Affairs and Department of Defense (VA & DoD).
Latest mTBI occurred at least 6 months prior to study enrollment.
Attention deficit of 1.5 SD below the mean of the RBANS attention index.
Family member or friend that is willing to complete a questionnaire.
Disqualifiers
History of pre-morbid learning disability.
History of psychiatric diagnosis sufficiently severe to have resulted in inpatient hospitalization.
Neurological disease unrelated to TBI (seizure disorder, stroke).
Score < 90 on National Adult Reading Test (NART).
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Goal Management Training plus Attention Training
- Brain Health Workshop and National Geographic Movies