A randomized controlled trial of emotion recognition training after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of 2 affect recognition interventions (Faces and Stories) in people with a traumatic brain injury.


METHODS
Postacute rehabilitation facilities.


METHODS
A total of 203 participants with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury were screened; 71 were eligible and randomized to the Faces (n = 24), Stories (n = 23), and Control interventions (n = 24). Participants were an average of 39.8 years of age and 10.3 years postinjury; 74% of participants were male.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial with immediate, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up posttests. Interventions were 9 hours of computer-based training with a therapist.


METHODS
Diagnostic Assessment of Nonverbal Accuracy 2-Adult Faces; Emotional Inference From Stories Test; Empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index); and Irritability and Aggression (Neuropsychiatric Inventory).


RESULTS
The Faces Intervention did significantly better than the Control Intervention on the Diagnostic Assessment of Nonverbal Accuracy 2-Adult Faces (P = .031) posttreatment; no time effect or group interaction was observed. No other significant differences were noted for the Faces Intervention. No significant differences were observed between the Stories and the Control Interventions; however, a significant time effect was found for the Emotional Inference From Stories Test.


CONCLUSIONS
The Faces Intervention effectively improved facial affect recognition in participants with chronic post-traumatic brain injury, and changes were maintained for 6 months. Future work should focus on generalizing this skill to functional behaviors.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Indianapolis (Dr Neumann); Auckland University of Technology, Centre for Person Centred Research, Auckland, New Zealand (Dr Babbage); Department of Applied Linguistics, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada (Dr Zupan); and School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York (Dr Willer).
Dawn
D
Neumann
Duncan R
DR
Babbage
Barbra
B
Zupan
Barry
B
Willer
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care