title: A trial of neuropsychologic rehabilitation in mild-spectrum traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effectiveness of a neuropsychologic rehabilitation program consisting of psychotherapy and cognitive remediation in the treatment of the affective and neuropsychologic sequelae of mild-spectrum traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind randomized, wait-listed controlled trial, with repeated measures and multiple baselines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic in northern New Jersey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty persons with persisting complaints after mild and moderate TBI (11 in treatment group, 9 controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group received both 50 minutes of individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and 50 minutes of individual cognitive remediation, 3 times a week for 11 weeks. The control group was wait-listed and received treatment after conclusion of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptom Check List-90R General Symptom Index, plus scales of depression, anxiety, coping, attention, and neuropsychologic functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significantly improved emotional functioning, including lessened anxiety and depression. Most significant improvements in emotional distress were noted at 1 month and 3 months posttreatment. Performance on a measure of divided auditory attention also improved, but no changes were noted in community integration scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and cognitive remediation appear to diminish psychologic distress and improve cognitive functioning among community-living persons with mild and moderate TBI.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA. tiersky@fdu.edu
authors.forename: Lana A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tiersky
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anselmi
authors.forename: Mark V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurtyka
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roosen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deluca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists