Evaluation of an Intervention Model for Family Crisis and Support

To learn more about how a family treatment program helps people after brain injury. Specifically, do families feel better and function better after going through the program, and do patients feel better and function better after going through the program.

Official Title

Evaluation of an Intervention Model for Family Crisis and Support (a Research Project Within the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Grant).

Conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Brain Injury, Chronic

Study Type

Observational

Study Design

Cohort, Prospective.

Further Details

To evaluate the efficacy of a structured outpatient family intervention program (BIFI) on family members’ emotional well being, life satisfaction, needs, and family functioning; and to evaluate the impact of the BIFI on the emotional well being, life satisfaction, functional independence, vocational status, and neurobehavioral functioning of persons with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Study Start

January 2003

Eligibility & Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older
• Genders Eligible for Study: Both
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population:

Family members/caregiver friends and persons with ABI who are at least three months postinjury will be eligible to participate in the present investigation. ABI is defined as damage to brain tissue caused by stroke, aneurysm, anoxia, non-progressive brain tumor, infection, or an external mechanical force as evidenced by: loss of consciousness, post traumatic amnesia (PTA), objective neurological findings, or skull fracture. Penetrating wounds fitting the definition listed above will be included. Lacerations and/or bruises of the scalp or forehead without other criteria listed above will be excluded. All participants must be at least 18 years of age or older and able to understand and provide consent.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Family members/caregiver friends and persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) who are at least three months postinjury. ABI is defined as damage to brain tissue caused by stroke, aneurysm, anoxia, or an external mechanical force as evidenced by: loss of consciousness, post traumatic amnesia (PTA), objective neurological findings, or skull fracture.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Families including individuals at imminent risk of psychiatric hospitalization, or in imminent danger of hurting themselves or others, as judged by the investigators.
• Individuals under 18 years of age.

Total Enrolment

200

Contact Details

Jennifer H Marwitz, MA
804-828-3704
jhmarwit@vcu.edu

Location:

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
United States, 23298