The primary objective of The Brain Injury Neurorehabilitation Project is a systematic effort to generate cutting edge research in brain injury and cognitive rehabilitation that will advance neurorehabilitation research. It will establish the first surveillance system and implement multimodal data to characterize the long-term effects of moderate to severe TBI. Additionally, the project will implement innovative rehabilitation methodologies, namely, cognitive training, social communication deficits and non-invasive brain stimulation with tDCS, to determine which modality can improve neurocognitive and psychosocial performance in adult ABI. Two funded projects, BRAIN-REHAB \& ACESO are incorporated in this project.
Acquired Brain Injury resulting from a TBI or CVA is a primary cause of chronic disability and unemployment, resulting in significant health, societal, and financial burden. The Brain Injury Neurorehabilitation Project is part of a systematic effort to study ABI in Cyprus. It is an umbrella project designed to generate cutting edge research in brain injury and cognitive rehabilitation that will advance neurorehabilitation research. Patients with TBI and strokes are often faced with cognitive and behavioral difficulties that interfere with their ability to return to productive living, thus contributing to unemployment, social isolation and low quality of life for decades post injury. The scientific objectives will address the aforementioned challenge. First, the project will establish the first TBI surveillance system in Cyprus and implement epidemiologically-principled and systematic data collection from large cohorts across the severity continuum. It will integrate neuropsychological, lifestyle, injury, imaging, genetic, and biological data using state of the art computational methods and quantitatively assess the exact contribution of critical variables to brain injury recovery. Second, the project will determine the effectiveness of a theory-driven neurocognitive therapy program, the Categorization Program (CP) in combination with a social-communication training during the chronic phase of the recovery process. It is hypothesized that the combination of remedial cognitive and social-communication training will yield improvement in functioning with sustainable long term effects. Additionally, the project will implement non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in combination with the social-communication intervention to determine the utility of NIBS and specifically tDCS, in improving cognitive performance and psychosocial functioning. Through innovative research and development of new methods and technologies, the project will advance the State-of-the-Art by producing cutting edge research with international impact while contributing to the development of personalized medicine and improvement of rehabilitation outcomes and reduction of disability in Cyprus.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Cognitive intervention delivered individually. This is a hierarchical cognitive rehabilitation program
An 11 week group intervention targeting social and cognitive-communication abilities
20 minute tDCS intervention as a non-invasive neuromodulation treatment
University of Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus
Memory
The Greek version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test will be used as a key outcome for memory. The test consists of a list of 15 items read to the participant, and the participant is required to recall as many items from the list. Maximum score per trial is 15. The process is repeated 5 times (presentation of the list and subsequent recall) for a possible maximum score of 60. A thirty-minute delay is also included after the five learning trials. The measure allows exploring a number of memory processes, such as short term memory (trial one), working memory (list learning across the five trials) and episodic memory (ability to recall items on the list after the 30-minute delay).
Time frame: Administered pre & post training at 3 & 6 months follow up
Language
Expressive and receptive language, including naming and verbal fluency, will be used. For this task, we will use the Greek short version of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary test (maximum score of 32) the Greek Short Version of the Boston Naming Test (maximum score of 20). In addition, animal naming in 60 seconds and words from letter F in 60 seconds will be used for verbal fluency. For all tasks, higher scores indicate better performance.
Time frame: Administered Pre and Post training at 3 & 6 months follow up
Executive Functioning
Laboratory and structured questionnaires will be used to assess executive functions. Laboratory tests include the Trail Making A and B (performance is measured in seconds; the faster, the better), and the Symbol Digits Modalities task (completion of as many items as possible in 90 seconds; higher score is better). In addition, the Dysexecutive Questionnaire will be completed by the participant and a close informant, to assess everyday executive functioning abilities. Maximum score is 148 and the lower score indicates better executive abilities.
Time frame: Administered pre & post training at 3 & 6 months follow up
WHO-BREF Quality of Life
This measure by the World Health Organization is a widely used measure of general quality of life across key domains: Psychological Health, Physical Health, Environment/Support. Higher scores indicate better quality of life. There is no specific cut-off score. Statements are rated on a likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with one's quality of life.
Time frame: Adminsitered pre & post training at 3 & 6 months follow up
Depression
The Greek version of the Beck Depression Inventory will be used. Higher scores indicate greater levels of depressive symptomatology. The score of 15 and higher indicates mild levels of depression. Maximum score is 63.
Time frame: Adminisered pre & post training at 3 & 6 months follow up
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