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Internet-Based Treatment for Children With Traumatic Brain Injuries & Their Families: Counselor Assisted Problem Solving (CAPS)

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center logo

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status

Completed

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury

Treatments

Behavioral: Counselor-assisted problem solving (CAPS)
Behavioral: Internet-resource comparison (IRC)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00409448
R01MH073764
DDTR B2-NDA

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet-based psychosocial treatment in improving problem-solving, communication skills, stress management strategies, and coping among children who have had a traumatic brain injury and their families.

Full description

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a strong blow, jolt, or penetration to the head that disrupts normal brain functioning. A TBI can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage. Falls, assaults, and motor vehicle accidents account for more than 50% of TBIs. Physical symptoms of a TBI can be subtle to severe and can include nausea, memory loss, mood swings, blurred vision, and light-headedness. This type of injury can be very stressful for families and can result in feelings of anxiety, burden, and depression among family members. A child who experiences a TBI will often display new social and behavioral problems, leading to further parental distress and increased family dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that problem-solving interventions can reduce caregiver distress and improve child adjustment following a TBI. However, access to skilled therapists and specialized care for this kind of psychosocial treatment is often limited in many communities. In such communities, the Internet offers a new way to meet the mental and other health needs of individuals with TBIs. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet-based psychosocial treatment in improving problem solving, communication skills, stress management strategies, and coping among teens who have had a TBI and their families.

Families participating in this study will be randomly assigned to either an Internet-based counselor-assisted problem-solving (CAPS) group or an Internet resource comparison group (IRC). Participants assigned to CAPS will work with a trained counselor who will guide them through a 6-month structured online problem-solving and skill-building program via one-on-one videoconference sessions. Families assigned to IRC will receive computers, high speed Internet access, and links to brain injury information and resources, but no access to the CAPS Web site content. The effectiveness of CAPS will be assessed after treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-up evaluations.

Enrollment

132 patients

Sex

All

Ages

12 to 18 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Moderate to severe TBI that occurred within the last 6 months
  • Overnight hospital stay
  • English-speaking
  • Parent must be willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Child does not live with parents or guardian
  • Child or parent has history of hospitalization for psychiatric problem
  • TBI is a result of child abuse
  • Child suffered a nonblunt injury (e.g., projectile wound, stroke, drowning, or other form of asphyxiation)
  • Diagnosed with moderate or severe mental retardation, autism, or a significant developmental disability

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

132 participants in 2 patient groups

CAPS
Experimental group
Description:
Participants will receive the Internet-based counselor-assisted problem-solving group treatment
Treatment:
Behavioral: Counselor-assisted problem solving (CAPS)
IRC
Active Comparator group
Description:
Participants will receive the Internet resource comparison group treatment
Treatment:
Behavioral: Internet-resource comparison (IRC)

Trial contacts and locations

5

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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