title: Emotional health and coping in spina bifida after goal management training: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Executive function impairments are common after spina bifida (SB) and potentially have a detrimental effect on the individual's emotional health and coping. Goal management training (GMT) is a cognitive rehabilitation method for improving executive function. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of GMT on aspects of perceived emotional health and coping in individuals with SB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight adult subjects with SB were included in this randomized controlled trial. Inclusion was based upon the presence of executive functioning complaints. Experimental subjects (n = 24) received 21 hr of GMT, with efficacy of GMT being compared with results of subjects in a wait-list condition (n = 14). Four self-report questionnaires assessing emotional health and coping were utilized as outcome measures. All subjects were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings indicated positive effects of GMT relative to the control group on measures of emotional health. Of note, the GMT group showed significant improvement, compared with control subjects, on a self-report inventory of depressive and anxiety symptoms after training, lasting at least 6 months posttreatment. Furthermore, both groups showed improvements after training on mental health components of health-related quality of life. Finally, the GMT group showed a significant increase in task-focused coping and a decrease in avoidant coping after training compared with pretreatment baseline assessment scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, findings indicate that by us a compensatory intervention to manage executive dysfunction, effective and lasting benefits can be achieved with regard to aspects of perceived emotional health and coping.
authors.affiliation: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9592-8589
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stubberud
authors.affiliation: Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langenbahn
authors.affiliation: Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4343-811X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stanghelle
authors.affiliation: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Anne-Kristine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Schanke
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult