The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Emotional Distress After Acquired Brain Injury

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), adapted to meet the unique needs of individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI), and modified for both group and telephone delivery. Design: Matched-controlled trial, with multiple measurements across participants, including pretreatment baseline assessment plus posttreatment and 1-month follow-up. Setting: Outpatient community brain injury center. Participants: Participants (N=20) with chronic ABI. Ten were assigned to the CBT treatment group and 10 to education control. All were experiencing significant emotional distress at the onset of the study. Intervention: Eleven sessions of CBT (or education control), including 1 introductory individual session plus 10 further sessions administered in either group format or by telephone. The CBT was designed to decrease psychologic distress and improve coping. Specific adaptations were made to the CBT in order to better accommodate individuals with cognitive difficulties. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measures included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Secondary outcome measures included the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) and the Ways of Coping Scale, Revised. Results: Significant CBT treatment effects (in both group and telephone formats) were observed on the SCL-90-R and the DASS-21, whereas no significant effects were observed in the education control group. No significant effects of treatment were observed on the CIQ or Ways of Coping Scale, Revised. Conclusions: Results suggest that adapted CBT-administered by telephone or in a face-to-face group setting-can significantly improve emotional well-being in chronic ABI.