The Utility of Positive Psychology in Military TBI Rehabilitation

Withdrawn before enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Traumatic Brain Injury

In brief

Service members and veterans (SMVs) report more persisting symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to civilian populations (Ommaya, Ommaya, Dannenber, \& Salazar, 1996). Therefore, it is important to utilize interventions that reduce psychological impairments and increase resiliency during military TBI rehabilitation. Unlike traditional behavioral health treatments that focus on reducing maladaptive behaviors and negative thoughts, positive psychological treatments focus on increasing positive emotions to increase well-being. There is substantial growing evidence demonstrating that cultivating positive emotions is preventative and improves resiliency and psychological (Bolier et al., 2013; Sin \& Lyumbomirsky, 2009), cognitive (Estrada, Isen, \& Young, 1997; Ashby \& Isen, 1999; Isen \& Daubman, 1984; Isen, Daubman, \& Nowicki, 1987; Fredrickson \& Branigan, 2001), and health outcomes (Pressman \& Cohen, 2005). This study will examine the effectiveness of traditional behavioral health treatment versus behavioral health treatment with an added positive psychological group treatment in terms of psychological, cognitive, and health outcomes during TBI rehabilitation. The hypothesis is that SMV's with TBI will experience improved outcomes with added positive psychological treatment compared to traditional behavioral health treatment alone. There will be about 100 people taking part in the study, randomly assigned to either a traditional behavioral health treatment group or an alternative behavioral health treatment group (therefore, up to 50 people will be enrolled in each) at the Fort Belvoir Intrepid Spirit Center over a period of 30 months. Study participants will be randomly assigned to groups, and over 3 months the study procedures include participating in group behavioral health treatment and/or individual behavioral health treatment and completing pre/post-treatment questionnaires focusing on psychological, cognitive, and health outcomes. The behavioral health intervention has not been well-studied; thus, the behavioral health intervention is considered experimental for the treatment of psychological symptoms. Additionally, the impact on other areas of functioning (i.e., cognitive functioning and overall health) is currently unknown.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04257435

Run by

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital

People needed

0

Starts

2019-09-01

Expected to finish

2021-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2020-02-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Documented mild TBI or moderate TBI.
• Individual is recommended to have a Behavioral Health provider at ISC Fort Belvoir for general TBI-related psychological impairments.
• Individual has decision making capacity for informed consent based on medical provider clinical judgement and initial evaluation.
• Individual scored a 14 or lower on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, indicating no worse than moderate depressive symptoms.
• Individual is 18 years or older.
• Individual is Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System-eligible.

You may not qualify if…

• Individuals with severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score above 14).
• Documented severe traumatic brain injury.
• Minors and pediatric populations.

Where it is running

• Fort Belvoir Community Hospital — Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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