Combined Cognitive and Vocational Interventions After Mild-to-moderate TBI: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

A considerable number of patients with mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience long-lasting somatic, cognitive, and emotional symptoms that may hamper their capacity to return to work (RTW). Although several studies have described medical, psychological and work-related factors that predict RTW after TBI, well-controlled intervention studies regarding RTW in this group are scarce. Furthermore, there have traditionally been weak collaborations among rehabilitation services in the health sector, the Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV), and the work-places.

The current project proposal describes an innovative randomized controlled trial (RCT) which will explore the effect of combined manualized cognitive rehabilitation efforts and supported employment in real-life competitive work settings for patients who have not returned to work 8 weeks post-injury. The project combines the rehabilitation and vocational science perspectives; it involves multidisciplinary collaboration, and explores the efficacy of increased cross-sectorial collaboration between specialized health care services and the welfare system. If the intervention proves efficient, the project will further describe the cost-effectiveness and utility of the program, and thereby provide important information of use for policy makers. In addition, the study aims at generating knowledge on the RTW-process both for the persons with TBI, and their workplaces, and to disseminate this knowledge in order to create new multidisciplinary and collaborative practices. The project has potential to generate knowledge of relevance for other patients with neurological deficit.

Conditions

• Brain Injuries, Traumatic
• Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Combined cognitive (Compensatory Cognitive Training - CCT) and vocational rehabilitation (Supported Employment)

The CCI-SE Group receives a manualized Group-based cognitive psycho-educational intervention (10 sessions), combined with supported employment at their work-place.

BEHAVIORAL

Control Group

The Control Group receives usual assessment and treatment at Oslo University Hospital.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Research Council of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Oslo Metropolitan University

  collaborator OTHER

• Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration

  collaborator OTHER

• Oslo University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nada Andelic, MD; PhD · Oslo University Hospital/University of Oslo

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-01-02

Primary Completion

2020-12-31

Completion

2021-06-30

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations