Effectiveness of a Treatment for Impairments in Social Cognition and Emotion Regulation (T-ScEmo) After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 5 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westerhof-Evers, Herma J.; Visser-Keizer, Annemarie C.; Fasotti, Luciano; Schönherr, Marleen C.; Vink, Martie; van der Naalt, Joukje; Spikman, Jacoba M.
• Other Names: Neumann Dawn section editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of head trauma rehabilitation. Volume 32:Issue 5(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: affect recognition -- emotion perception -- social behavior -- social cognition -- social skills -- TBI -- ToM; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Brain damage -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000332
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-9701

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the effects of a multifaceted Treatment for Social cognition and Emotion regulation (T-ScEmo) in patients with a traumatic brain injury. Participants: Sixty-one patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury randomly assigned to an experimental T-ScEmo intervention or a Cogniplus control condition. Interventions: T-ScEmo is a compensatory strategy training for impairments in emotion recognition, theory of mind, and social behavioral skills. Cogniplus is a computerized cognitive function training. Both interventions were given in 16 to 20 weekly 1-hour sessions. Main Measures: Social cognition tests and questionnaires for social behavior (self- and proxy-rated) administered at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and at 3 to 5 months of follow-up. Results: Compared with the Cogniplus group, the T-ScEmo group improved significantly on facial affect recognition, theory of mind, proxy-rated empathic behavior, societal participation, and treatment goal attainment, which lasted up to 5 months after treatment. At follow-up, the T-ScEmo group also reported higher quality of life and their life partners rated relationship quality to be higher than the Cogniplus group. Conclusion: This study shows that impairments in social cognition can be effectively dealt with by using a comprehensive treatment protocol, leading to improvements in everyday life social functioning.