Social Competence Treatment after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Interactive Group Treatment versus Non-Interactive Treatment

Can any of this be used in stroke? It seems survivors are expected to find their own stroke support group and figure out this social participation stuff on their own.  Your doctor did tell you about this?

Aristotle believes that there are three different kinds of friendship; that of utility, friendship of pleasure, and virtuous friendship. 

and that you will likely lose all of the first two post stroke?

Social Competence Treatment after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Interactive Group Treatment versus Non-Interactive Treatment

Author links open overlay panelCynthiaHarrison-FelixPhD^abJody K.NewmanMA, CCC-SLP^aLenoreHawleyMSSW, LCSW, CBIST^aClareMoreyMA, CCC-SLP^aJessica M.KetchumPhD^abWilliam C.WalkerMD^cdKathleen R.BellMD^eScott R.MillisPhD, ABPP-CN^fCynthiaBradenMA, CCC-SLP^aJamesMalecPhD, ABPP-CN^hiFlora M.HammondMD^hiC.B.EagyeMS^aLauraHoweJD, PhD^j

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2018.05.030Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a replicable group treatment program for improving social competence after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing two methods of conducting a social competency skills program, an interactive group format versus a classroom lecture.

Setting

Community and Veteran rehabilitation centers.

Participants

179 civilian, military, and veteran adults with TBI and social competence difficulties, at least 6 months post-injury.

Experimental Intervention

Thirteen weekly group interactive sessions (1.5 hours) with structured and facilitated group interactions to improve social competence.

Alternative (Control) Intervention

Thirteen traditional classroom sessions using the same curriculum with brief supplemental individual sessions but without structured group interaction.

Primary Outcome Measure

Profile of Pragmatic Impairment in Communication (PPIC), an objective behavioral rating of social communication impairments following TBI.

Secondary Outcomes

LaTrobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – (PCL-C), Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), Scale of Perceived Social Self Efficacy (PSSE).

Results

Social competence goals (GAS) were achieved and maintained for most participants regardless of treatment method. Significant improvements in the primary outcome (PPIC) and two of the secondary outcomes (LCQ and BSI) were seen immediately post-treatment and at 3 months post-treatment in the AT arm only, however these improvements were not significantly different between the GIST and AT arms. Similar trends were observed for PSSE and PCL-C.

Conclusions

Social competence skills improved for persons with TBI in both treatment conditions. The group interactive format was not found to be a superior method of treatment delivery in this study.