View clinical trials related to Brain Injuries, Traumatic.
Filter by:Fall with head injury is becoming an epidemic challenge especially with the ageing population. Contributing factors for mortality and poor functional outcome included development of cerebral contusion and delayed traumatic intracerebral haematoma. There is a higher prevalence especially with the increasing use of antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Non-invasive monitoring such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is sensitive in detecting intracranial changes. The role and efficacy of this non-invasive method has not been specifically established in patients with head injury as an initial non-operative monitoring. This is particular important in the setting of a general ward in which nursing staff is limited. The advantages of these noninvasive monitoring might have a role of continuous neuro-monitoring. They can also potentially reduce the number of unnecessary repeated CT Brain in the context of limited radiology staff and resources. Timely detection and treatment of this condition accordingly is crucial. Potential options of non-invasive monitoring such as nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is to be investigated. The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of NIRS as a non-invasive monitoring in detecting delayed intracranial injuries in comparison with the Gold Standard CT Brain. Study design is Prospective sensitivity and specificity study of Near Infra-red Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a non-invasive monitoring in detecting delayed intracranial injuries in comparison with the Gold Standard CT Brain in Hong Kong Chinese. Consecutive patients admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong would be recruited. Outcome measures including correlation of non-invasive monitoring with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to CT Brain findings including any increase in haematoma size, cerebral edema or mass effect. Secondary outcome including 30 days mortality and functional outcome at 3 months.
This two-part study seeks to improve symptoms such as pain and sleep problems after concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Study I evaluates symptoms of mTBI through a series of 10 office sessions in which musical tones are echoed, or mirrored back in real time, to reflect one's own brain activity. Those who take part in the study will be randomly assigned to receive either tones that are based on their brain activity/brainwaves, or random tones. Study II evaluates symptoms of mTBI through either 10 office sessions of the same acoustic stimulation linked to brain activity/brainwaves as Study I compared to 5 office sessions of acoustic stimulation plus intermittent very low level electrical stimulation of the scalp linked to brain activity.
ICAN is the first treatment to target hostile attributions after TBI, making it a novel anger/ aggression management approach in this population. This is a randomized waitlist control trial. The length of time in the trial is approximately 15 weeks and the intervention is 6 weeks long.
A novel and promising therapy for cognitive dysfunction is non-invasive brain stimulation, of which transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a form. TMS is currently FDA-approved for use in depression and migraine. It is under investigation for use in a number of other neurologic and psychiatric disorders. In addition to its potential to improve affective symptoms, recent research has suggested that TMS targeted to select cortical regions can also improve cognition. In trials of TMS therapy for psychiatric disorders, several studies have shown benefits for cognitive function alongside symptom amelioration. In healthy persons, a course of stimulation of the parietal area improved objective measures of learning and memory. Among persons with TBI, there have been case reports supporting improvement in cognitive function and postconcussive symptoms; however, there have not yet been any controlled studies of TMS for TBI-related cognitive dysfunction.
The purpose of this study is to learn about how trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and mild traumatic brain injury that can occur during deployment affect the brain. The investigators also want to learn how PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury can affect the chance of developing Alzheimer disease later in life. The investigators will study this by using magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography scans to obtain pictures of the brain.
In the current study the investigators intend to evaluate the role of Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in the prediction of poor outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The investigators hypothesize that IMA will be elevated in patients with traumatic brain injury due to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species by the injured brain.
The study evaluates whether the use of Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem®) in TBI patients will be effective in reducing symptoms of post traumatic narcolepsy and post traumatic hypersomnia.
A prospective open-label case-control study will be performed aiming to assess the utility of thromboelastometry (ROTEM) for identification of hemostatic changes, goal-directed coagulation management, and prognosis of intracranial hemorrhagic injury progression as well as clinical outcome in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury. Patients undergoing craniotomy to treat traumatic brain injury will be enrolled. All patients will undergo standard perioperative coagulation analysis (APTT, PT, INR, fibrinogen levels, platelet count), whereas ROTEM-guided group will additionally be tested with ROTEM. "Cases" will be managed according to a ROTEM-based algorithm, and "Controls" will be treated as usual (based on clinical judging). Comparative analysis of acquired demographic, clinical and laboratory data will be performed. The investigators believe that ROTEM results could provide better insight into perioperative coagulation changes, be beneficial to patient blood management, and result in better outcome.
Research by the investigators' team and others demonstrates that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use disorders (AUD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and chronic pain frequently co-occur among post-9/11 war Veterans and are associated with functional impairment and suicide risk; however, no treatment currently exists that has been specifically designed to promote functional recovery among Veterans experiencing any combination of these most common mental and physical wounds of war. The investigative team has: (A) identified multiple modifiable psychosocial factors (emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, self-compassion) that prospectively predict impairment and suicidal ideation in Veterans; (B) characterized long-term trajectories of resilience and functional disability in Veterans; (C) determined that high utilization of VA mental health services appears to have little, if any, impact on the functional recovery of Veterans on the moderate and severely impaired trajectories; (D) identified psychological flexibility (i.e., the ability to remain present in the moment despite emotional distress and to persist in changing behavior in the pursuit of one's values and goals) as a unique, prospective predictor of membership in the severely impaired functional trajectory and of suicidal ideation, even after accounting for the effects of co-morbidity; and (E) demonstrated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-a trans-diagnostic, mindfulness-based behavior therapy that seeks to improve functioning by targeting psychological flexibility -can lead to recovery, including sustained improvements in functional disability, quality of life (QoL), suicidal ideation, PTSD, and AUD symptoms among severely impaired Veterans with co-occurring PTSD-AUD. This study is Phase 3 of Project SERVE (Study Evaluating Returning Veterans' Experiences). Through two prior RR&D MERIT awards, SERVE has followed a cohort of post-9/11 Veterans since 2010 and has identified numerous risk and protective factors. SERVE's overall objective is to understand and improve the long-term functional outcomes of post-9/11 Veterans. Consistent with the investigators' conceptual model, the central hypothesis is that psychological flexibility and other trans-diagnostic treatment targets mediate the effects of the most common mental and physical wounds of war on long-term functioning and self-directed violence (i.e., suicide risk). Thus, integrated interventions specifically designed to improve functioning associated with these conditions are most likely to promote long-term recovery among the most impaired Veterans. The investigators will test the central hypothesis and accomplish the overall objective by pursuing the following specific aims: Aim 1: Identify treatment targets that prospectively predict functional disability, family functioning and self-directed violence (SDV) in post-9/11 Veterans with PTSD, depression, chronic pain, TBI, and/or AUD. To achieve this aim, the investigators will follow 500 Veterans for 2 years in order to prospectively evaluate the impact of several novel, treatment-relevant factors on functional disability and SDV over time. H1: Novel factors (mindfulness, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and moral injury) along with established treatment targets (psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and emotion regulation) will prospectively predict functional disability and SDV after accounting for covariates.
Childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses significant impairment in children's executive functions (EFs) for moderate to severe injuries, yet interventions specifically designed for children's EF rehabilitation post-TBI and rigorous clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of such interventions remain unavailable. In this study, the investigators will conduct a small-scale pilot randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of a novel virtual reality (VR)-based training program for EF rehabilitation for mild complicated to severe childhood TBI. Knowledge from this research will provide empirical evidence for a larger-scale RCT after the conclusion of this pilot study, with the aim to improve the long-term health and quality of life in children with TBI, as well as promote efficiency and effectiveness of future psychological rehabilitation for children with TBI.