Treatment for Social Cognition Disorders (T-ScEmo) in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury and Comorbid Neuropsychiatric Problems

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Treatment for social cognition disorders (T-ScEmo): T-ScEmo is an evidence-based, multifaceted treatment protocol for poor social cognition and emotion regulation impairments in patients with ABI. T-ScEmo is implemented as standard practice in the Netherlands. In total, the treatment consists of 20 1-hour sessions. The treatment is divided into extended psychoeducation for patient and proxy and 3 modules, including emotion perception (module 1), perspective taking and understanding social information (module 2), and goal-directed social behavior (module 3). These three modules are interdependent and strengthen each other. Therefore, the developers strongly recommend to offer all three modules. The presence of a proxy is required in the first psycho-education session and during the third module. The first and second modules are invariant (10 sessions together), but in the third module, therapists can adjust the content to individual needs and personal goals.

Study summary

Acquired brain injury (ABI) can lead to a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social problems. In the recent years, more research has been conducted to examine the impact of ABI on social cognition. Approximately 13%-40% of patients with ABI experience difficulties with social cognition. Social cognition refers to the cognitive processes involved in perceiving, interpreting, and responding to social information. When these processes are disrupted, patients may struggle to (1) understand social situations, (2) interpret the emotions and intentions of others, and (3) respond appropriately in social interactions. This not only results in reduced social engagement for ABI patients, but also places a burden on relationships and proxies. Therefore, it is important to effectively treat social cognition problems in ABI patients.

To date, only a few treatment studies aimed at improving social cognition have been conducted. In 2017, a multifaceted treatment for impairments in social cognition and emotion regulation (T-ScEmo) is developed, which was proven effective in improving multiple aspects of social cognition and emotion regulation. T-ScEmo is now considered as an evidence-based treatment for patients with traumatic brain injury and social cognition problems. However, ABI patients and comorbid neuropsychiatric problems have been excluded in most studies exploring the treatment of social cognition problems after ABI. It is important that the effect of T-ScEmo in this particular group is examined, since 25%-88% of the ABI patients experience neuropsychiatric problems. Comorbidities are thus very prevalent in this ABI population.

Unfortunately, up till now there are no studies examining the effect of T-ScEmo in patients with ABI, comorbid neuropsychiatric problems and social cognition problems. Therefore, the aim of the present study is threefold:

1. To examine the effect of a treatment for impairments in social cognition and emotion regulation (T-ScEmo) on social cognition problems;
2. To examine the effect of T-ScEmo on social interaction, communication and neuropsychiatric behavioral problems;
3. To examine the effect of T-ScEmo on quality of partner relationship in patients with ABI and comorbid psychiatric problems.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Social functioning - Social Functioning Scale (SFS) — From enrollment to follow-up, approximately 12 months.
  Functioning in social situations is measured by using a Social Functioning Scale (SFS), where patients and proxies rate the patient's functioning in social situations on a 10-point scale from 1 ("not at all") to 10 ("entirely"). The following question will be asked to patients and proxies: "How satisfied are you today with your (or your partner's) functioning in social situations?" Higher scores indicate more satisfaction.
• Neuropsychiatric behavior problems - Neuropsychiatric behavior Problems Scale (NPS) — From enrollment to follow-up, approximately 12 months.
  Neuropsychiatric behavior problems are measured by using a Neuropsychiatric behavior Problems Scale (NPS), where patients and proxies rate the patient's neuropsychiatric behavior problems on a 10-point scale from 1 ("not at all") to 10 ("entirely"). The following question will be asked to patients and proxies: "To what extent did you (or your partner) experience neuropsychiatric behavioral problems today?". 'Neuropsychiatric behavioral problems' refer to the neuropsychiatric problems that the client is (most) affected by (e.g. irritability, aggression, disinhibition, depression, anxiety). Higher scores indicate more neuropsychiatric problems.
• Relationship quality - Relationship Quality Scale (RQS) — From enrollment to follow-up, approximately 12 months.
  Relationship quality is measured by using the Relationship Quality Scale (RQS), where patients and proxies rate the quality of their relationship on a 10-point scale from 1 ("not at all") to 10 ("entirely"). Higher scores indicate more satisfaction.

Trial sites (1)

More Ggz Oost Brabant trials in the Netherlands

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