Neuropsychological intervention in the acute phase: A pilot study of emotional wellbeing of relatives of patients with severe brain injuryAnne Norup, Lars Siert, Erik Lykke Mortensen

Anne Norup, Lars Siert, Erik Lykke Mortensen

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Abstract

This pilot study investigated the effects of acute neuropsychological intervention for relatives of patients with severe brain injury. Participants were enrolled in an intervention group comprising 39 relatives, and a control group comprising 47 relatives. The intervention consisted of supportive and psycho-educational sessions with a neuropsychologist in the acute care setting. The intervention group completed self-report scales in the acute setting and after the intervention at admission to sub-acute rehabilitation. The control group completed the self-report scales only at admission to sub-acute rehabilitation. Outcome measures included selected scales from the Symptom Checklist Revised 90 (SCL-90-R), the Short Form 36 (SF-36), and a visual analogue quality of life scale. The intervention group showed a significant decrease in anxiety scores from the acute to the sub-acute setting (= 2.70 = 0.0100.30), but also significantly lower Role Emotional scores (= 2.12 = 0.043, = 0.40). In the sub-acute setting, an analysis of covariance model showed a borderline significant difference between the intervention and the control group on the anxiety scale (= 0.066 = 0.59). Any effects of the acute neuropsychological intervention were limited. Further research is needed to explore the effects of different interventions in more homo-genous and larger groups of relatives.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume45
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)827-34
Number of pages8
ISSN1650-1977
Publication statusPublished - 3 Sep 2013

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