Improving Social Cognition and Social Behaviour in Various Brain Disorders

Summary

Impairments in aspects of social cognition are disorder-transcending: these have been demonstrated in various neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, brain tumours (both low grade glioma's and meningioma's) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Social cognition involves processing of social information, in particular the abilities to perceive social signals, understand others and respond appropriately (Adolphs 2001). Crucial aspects of social cognition are the recognition of facial expressions of emotions, perspective taking (also referred to as mentalizing or Theory of Mind), and empathy. Impairments in social cognition can have a large negative impact on self-care, communication, social and professional functioning, and thus on quality of life of patients.

Recently, a first multi-faceted treatment for social cognitive impairments in TBI was developed and evaluated; T-ScEmo (Training Social Cognition and Emotion). T-ScEmo turned out to be effective in reducing social cognitive symptoms and improving daily life social functioning in this particular group, with effects lasting over time (Westerhof-Evers et al, 2017, 2019).

Unfortunately, up till now there are no evidence based, transdiagnostic treatment possibilities available for these impeding social cognition impairments in neurological patient groups, other than TBI. Therefore the aim of the present study is to investigate whether T-ScEmo is effective for social cognition disorders in patients with different neurological impairments, such as stroke (including subarachnoidal haemorrhage (SAH)), brain tumours, MS, infection (meningitis, encephalitis) and other. The secondary objective is to determine which patient related factors are of influence on treatment effectiveness. In short, hopefully this study can contribute to a treatment possibility for social cognition disorders for all patients with various neurological disorders.

It is expected that T-ScEmo will be effective for various neurological disorders, based on previous research of Westerhof-Evers et al. (2017, 2019). Since social cognition disorders within patients with traumatic brain injury do all have the same ethiology it is expected that the treatment will show the same effects for patients with various neurological disorders. Therefore it is expected that patients will improve on social cognition, social participation and quality of life and social behaviour, that these results will last over time.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Brain Tumor

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment social cognition and emotion regulation (T-ScEmo)

T-ScEmo is a multifaceted treatment protocol that has the overall aim to improve social cognition, regulation of social behaviour and social participation in everyday life (Westerhof et al., 2017; 2019). The treatment includes, in addition to practicing social cognitive skills throughout the treatment, close involvement of a significant other, and homework assignments. The treatment consists of three modules that address 1) perception of social information including facial expressions of emotions, 2) perspective taking and understanding of social information and 3) regulation of social behaviour. The treatment contains 15-one hour live treatment sessions with a neuropsychologist and 5 online practice sessions, once or twice a week. In the online sessions, the patient can practice the information at home as a neuropsychologist is available for questions. When patients find it too difficult to practice individually at home, there is a opportunity to offer these sessions as live sessions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Medical Center Groningen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• J.M. Spikman, Prof. Dr. · Department of Neurology - Unit Neuropsychology of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-05-31

Primary Completion

2025-01-31

Completion

2025-01-31

Countries

• Netherlands

Study Locations