Improving Work Outcomes for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
The study was a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing supported employment plus Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (SE-Cog) to enhanced supported employment (ESE) for OEF/OIF veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are unemployed and want to return to work. CogSMART is a manualized, 12-week compensatory cognitive training intervention designed to provide: a) psychoeducation, b) strategies to address sleep problems, fatigue, headaches, and stress, and c) strategies to improve prospective memory, attention, learning/memory, and executive functioning. Assessments of cognition, post-concussive symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, functional skills, and quality of life were administered at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months following study enrollment. Work outcomes (i.e., weeks and hours worked; wages earned) were measured weekly during the 12-month study. Results indicated that CogSMART had robust effects on post-concussive symptoms (F=6.48, p=.016). Veterans who received CogSMART were also more likely to obtain competitive employment in the course of supported employment (60% vs. 48%). These results suggest that CogSMART, in the context of supported employment, may improve post-concussive symptoms and work outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA575695
Entities
People
- Elizabeth W Twamley