Effectiveness of Communication-specific Coping Intervention for adults with traumatic brain injury: preliminary results. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Douglas, Jacinta M.; Knox, Lucy; De Maio, Carren; Bridge, Helen; Drummond, Melanie; Whiteoak, Joanne
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Volume 29:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Brain injury -- communication -- coping -- intervention; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Clinical neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2016.1259114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-2011

Abstract

ABSTRACT: People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) describe everyday interactions as a long-term challenge frequently associated with ongoing stress. Communication-specific Coping Intervention (CommCope-I) is a new treatment developed to target coping in the context of communication breakdown. The intervention incorporates principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, self-coaching and context-sensitive social communication therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of CommCope-I in a group of adults with severe TBI and ongoing functional communication difficulties. Participants were 13 adults with severe TBI (GCS = 3–8; mean age = 35.2 years; mean time post-injury = 7.6 years). The project involved three phases: (1) Control/pre-intervention wait phase (multiple assessments), (2) Treatment (6 weeks), and (3) Follow-up (12 weeks). Repeated measures ANOVA with planned pairwise comparisons were used to test the significance of change. Intervention elicited statistically significant improvements in communication-specific coping, functional communication and stress that were maintained for three months. Improved use of communication-specific coping strategies was evident in clinician blind ratings. Clients reported significant reduction in stress at the end of treatment and one and three months later. This intervention provides a promising means of improving communication-specific coping and reducing communication dysfunction and its negative consequences for people with TBI.