Teen Online Problem Solving (TOPS) - An Online Intervention Following TBI

Summary

The purpose of this study is to learn if using the World Wide Web to train teens and their families in problem-solving, communication skills, and stress management strategies can help them to cope better following traumatic brain injury (TBI). To answer this question, we will look at changes from before the intervention to after the intervention on questionnaire measures of problem-solving skills, communication, social competence, adjustment, and family stress and burden. We hypothesize that families receiving the TOPS intervention will have better parent-child communication and problem-solving skills at follow-up than those receiving the IRC intervention. Additionally, families receiving the TOPS intervention will have lower levels of parental distress, fewer child behavior problems and better child functioning than those receiving the IRC intervention. Lastly, treatment effects will be moderated by SES and life stresses, such that families with greater social disadvantage will benefit more from the TOPS intervention.

Conditions

• TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Brain Edema
• Craniocerebral Trauma
• Hematoma
• Brain Concussion

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Teen Online Problem Solving

We will test the following hypotheses: 1) Children with TBI receiving TOPS will have fewer behavior problems, greater social competence, and better functioning than those receiving IRC at both post-treatment and at a 6-month follow-up assessment. 2) Caregivers of children receiving TOPS will report less depression and psychological distress, less parent-child conflict, and better family functioning than those receiving IRC at both post-treatment and at a 6-month follow-up assessment. 3) Social resources will moderate treatment efficacy, such that children with limited social and economic resources will show greater improvements in the more comprehensive TOPS intervention. We hypothesize better teen problem solving and communication skills, fewer teen emotional/behavioral problems, less parental burden and distress, and less parent-teen conflict at follow-up among the TOPS group compared to the IRC group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nationwide Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Shari L Wade, PhD · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

11 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2005-10-31

Primary Completion

2009-11-30

Completion

2009-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations