View clinical trials related to Brain Injuries.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of early administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on long-term neurological outcome after severe traumatic brain injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common injury that can produce significant functional sequelae and ongoing disabling symptoms. Predicting who will have an uncomplicated recovery and who will suffer ongoing symptoms is difficult. This protocol evaluates the use of neuropsychologic testing after mild TBI in injured patients to attempt to objectively establish predictors of long term disability and functional recovery.
Nightly administration of a unique, sublingual (under the tongue) formulation of tizanidine, a known anti-spasticity medication, has been shown in a previous study to improve sleep and next-day functioning in CP (cerebral palsy) patients. It is hypothesized that this improvement in sleep efficiency (i.e.,fewer wake episodes, longer time asleep, etc.) with resulting improvement in quality-of-life (i.e.,improvements in next-day functioning, cognition and movement) may also be seen in a similar patient population, i.e., children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of three training programs designed to teach persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) to recognize emotions. It is hypothesized that the training programs will enhance several aspects of emotion recognition in persons with ABI. Furthermore, it is expected that these effects will be maintained over time, and will positively influence participants' social behavior and integration.
The purpose of this study is: - To determine the safety and feasibility of performing an international multi-centre randomized control trial of early and prolonged hypothermia to improve outcome in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). - To determine whether in children with severe traumatic brain injury, prolonged initial hypothermia (minimum 72 hours at 32-33 degrees) improves the proportion of good outcomes 12 months after injury when compared to initial normothermia (36-37 degrees).
The purpose of this study is to determine if bone marrow progenitor cell (BMPC) autologous transplantation in children after isolated traumatic brain injury is safe and will improve functional outcome.
Problem: Depressive symptoms are a common mental health problem following traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurring in up to 87% of patients. Depression following TBI has important consequences including poor functioning, lack of ability to return to work and family activities and prolonged TBI symptoms. The reason depression develops in some patients following TBI is unknown, making treatment difficult. One type of brain protein that shows genetic differences between people is called the serotonin transporter. People can be divided by whether or not they have a short protein (S allele) or a long protein (L allele) which influences the amount of serotonin transporter. Serotonin is a key brain chemical in depression in many mental/psychiatric illnesses. We think that the genetic differences in the serotonin transporter, that may not make a difference before TBI, may become important after TBI due to the nature of these injuries. Methods: A consecutive sample of 200 patients attending a TBI clinic who have sustained a mild-to-moderate TBI (American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine criteria) within the last 2 months will be assessed for the presence of major depression (standard criteria, standardized interview). In phase I, blood samples from patients with mild-to-moderate TBI with depression and without depression will be checked for the presence of the 5-HTTPR genetic difference. This will allow us to study if the S allele is more likely in TBI patients with depression. In phase II, the patients with depression will be treated with the SSRI citalopram for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, or upon discontinuation of citalopram, depression will be assessed again. This will allow us to study if depressed patients with the S allele respond more poorly to treatment. Persons assessing depression after treatment will not know the genetic makeup of each patient. Results Expected: If the serotonin transporter genetic difference confers susceptibility to depression following TBI, this will provide important information on what causes depression following TBI and document a risk factor for depression previously unstudied in this population. Also, as SSRI antidepressants are used to treat depression in TBI, this study may identify a subgroup of TBI patients in whom different medications should be given or additional medications are required.
This is a randomized clinical trial which compares a standard day treatment program for individuals with TBI with the "Executive Plus" program; the latter emphasizes training of attention, emotional self-regulation and problem solving. The goal of the Executive Plus program is to maximize executive functioning, as well as the long-term outcomes of community participation and satisfaction with daily life.
Patients who completed the 12-week double blind protocol may enter this 26-week, open-label extension. This extension will give patients who complete the study an opportunity to receive treatment with open-label rivastigmine 3-12 mg/day and further evaluation for the cognitive deficits related to traumatic brain injury. This extension will enable further evaluation of patients, as well as analyses to be conducted examining response to treatments in the original drug and placebo groups.
Randomized clinical trial that compares the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive psychotherapy for depression. Short- and long-term outcomes will be evaluated in terms of changes in mood (primarily depression and anxiety), participation in activities and life satisfaction.