title: Multifamily group treatment for veterans with traumatic brain injury: what is the value to participants?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and helpfulness of implementation of multifamily group treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) among veterans who sustained a TBI during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families or caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Veterans and their family members who participated in an open clinical trial (August 2010-March 2011) of multifamily psychoeducation for TBI at two Veterans Affairs medical centers were invited to one of three focus groups. Participants were asked about problems experienced before and during the intervention, aspects of treatment that were helpful, and improvements that would facilitate effective implementation of multifamily group treatment for TBI. Postintervention focus group transcripts were analyzed by utilizing qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants included eight veterans with TBI and eight family members. Five themes emerged: exploring common struggles and reducing isolation, building skills to cope with TBI and related problems, restoring relationships through communication and understanding, increasing understanding of the interconnection between TBI and posttraumatic stress disorder, and improving the multifamily group experience and increasing treatment engagement of veterans and families. Veterans and family members found multifamily group treatment for TBI highly acceptable and offered recommendations to improve and increase access to the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results supported the feasibility and acceptability of multifamily group treatment for TBI. Specific recommendations to improve this psychoeducational intervention and its implementation are offered.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mid-Atlantic Region Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, North Carolina, USA. kristy.straits-troster@va.gov
authors: Kristy
authors: K
authors: Straits-Troster
authors: Jennifer M
authors: JM
authors: Gierisch
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Strauss
authors: Dennis G
authors: DG
authors: Dyck
authors: Lisa B
authors: LB
authors: Dixon
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Norell
authors: Deborah A
authors: DA
authors: Perlick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*