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Rehabilitation Trials

Research Program

Research Project 2: Short Term Executive Plus (STEP): A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of Short-Term Intensive Cognitive Rehabilitation

This study will evaluate an innovative, short-term (8 weeks), intensive (72 sessions) cognitive rehabilitation program, Short Term Executive Plus (STEP), focused on improving executive functions and attention of participants with TBI. STEP includes:

  • Systematic group treatment of post-TBI executive function deficits through problem solving training and emotional regulation
  • Systematic individual treatment of post-TBI attention deficits
  • Modular and contextual approaches to treatment

Outcomes will be examined using measures that focus on functioning within domains, across domains and in every-day life, and also will assess long-term outcomes.

The aims of the study are to:

  • Determine whether the STEP program improves executive function and other expected outcomes
  • Explore characteristics of participants associated with greater or lesser benefit from the STEP program
  • Maximize potential application to clinical practice by creating and disseminating a treatment manual detailing the STEP program

This study is an RCT comparing the functioning of individuals with TBI who receive the 8-week STEP program with that of an untreated "wait-list" control group. This design was chosen because no appropriate control intervention exists. That is, no "standard" rehabilitation treatment is available that could serve as an appropriate "control" condition/treatment. The research staff administering pre- and post-intervention evaluation instruments will be blind to each participant's randomly assigned condition.

Outcomes from the proposed study will also be compared with those from the 26-week, 5 day per week Executive Plus program at Mount Sinai, using an observational design. This comparison may guide future studies aimed at determining optimal "dosage" of cognitive rehabilitation for people with TBI.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM, CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT THE REHABILITATION TRIALS SECTION OF THIS WEB SITE.
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