title: A randomized trial of teen online problem solving for improving executive function deficits following pediatric traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of teen online problem solving (TOPS) in improving executive function (EF) deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Families of adolescents (aged 11-18 years) with moderate to severe TBI were recruited from the trauma registry of 2 tertiary-care children's hospitals and then randomly assigned to receive TOPS (n = 20), a cognitive-behavioral, skill-building intervention, or access to online resources regarding TBI (Internet resource comparison; n = 21). Parent and teen reports of EF were assessed at baseline and a posttreatment follow-up (mean = 7.88 months later).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvements in self-reported EF skills were moderated by TBI severity, with teens with severe TBI in the TOPS treatment reporting significantly greater improvements than did those with severe TBI in the Internet resource comparison. The treatment groups did not differ on parent ratings of EF at the follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that TOPS may be effective in improving EF skills among teens with severe TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Shari L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Nicolay C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: JoAnne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Kendra M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cass
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herren
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Keith Owen
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Yeates
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D049269:Videoconferencing