Psychological interventions for treating neuropsychiatric consequences of acquired brain injury: A systematic review.

Anxiety, aggression/agitation, apathy and disinhibition are common neuropsychiatric consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI); these consequences can cause functional impairment and lead to reduced social integration. This systematic review aims to provide an examination of the current evidence on psychological interventions for treating these consequences. Two reviewers selected potential relevant articles, retrieved from five literature databases; methodological quality was assessed and appraised. A total of 5207 studies were found, of which 43 were included: 21 studies for anxiety, 18 for aggression, two studies for apathy, and six for disinhibition. Three studies addressed multiple consequences. Four high-quality (i.e., Class I and II) studies showed significant decreases in anxiety after cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In total, 14 studies consistently showed significant decreases in aggression/agitation after behavioural management techniques or anger management sessions. Substantial variability existed in the examined interventions and in their effects on apathy and disinhibition. Unfortunately, firm conclusions and recommendations for clinical practice are considered premature, due to concerns about the methodology used. However, this review yielded new evidence on the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety symptoms post-ABI and there has been some response to the ongoing call for studies with high methodological quality.

Interdisciplinary follow-up clinic for people with spinal cord injury: a retrospective study of a carousel model.

STUDY DESIGN: Explorative retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Secondary health conditions (SHCs) are common in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). To date, little is known about the effectiveness of long-term follow-up care in preventing SHCs. The objective of this study was to explore the therapeutic content of an interdisciplinary follow-up clinic by retrospective analyses of provided recommendations and collected data concerning SHCs. SETTING: Rehabilitation center Sint Maartenskliniek, The Netherlands. METHODS: All people with SCI, who visited one or more outpatient interdisciplinary follow-up clinics between January 2012 and October 2020 were included in this study. Treatment information was retrieved from their medical records. RESULTS: The 264 participants of the follow-up clinic received, after their first visit, an average of 3.9 recommendations regarding SHCs. Most recommendations were preventive in nature (43%), and were related to physical SHCs (61%). Most recommendations were followed by the participants (34% out of 40% that could be determined) and half of the underlying problems were solved (31% out of 62%). The bodyweight and respiratory function remained stable over time. CONCLUSION: Participants of the interdisciplinary follow-up clinics received extensive recommendations on a variety of subjects, which most likely, reflects the interdisciplinary approach. Recommendations were followed-up to a large extent, resulting in solving half of the underlying SHCs. This way, worse SHCs were prevented by the recommendations. This findings, together with the stability of respiratory function and bodyweight, suggests the added value of the interdisciplinary follow-up clinic to usual care. More prospective research is necessary to investigate the (cost-)effectiveness.

Temporal evolution and predictors of subjective cognitive complaints up to 4 years after stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the temporal evolution of subjective cognitive complaints in the long-term after stroke, and to identify predictors of long-term subjective cognitive complaints. METHODS: Prospective cohort study including 395 stroke patients. Subjective cognitive complaints were assessed at 2 months, 6 months and 4 years post-stroke, using the Checklist for Cognitive and Emotional consequences following stroke (CLCE-24). The temporal evolution of subjective cognitive complaints was described using multilevel growth modelling. Associations between CLCE-24 cognition score at 4 years post-stroke and baseline characteristics, depression, anxiety, cognitive test performance, and adaptive and maladaptive psychological factors were examined. Significant predictors were entered in a multivariate multilevel model. RESULTS: A significant increase in subjective cognitive complaints from 2 months up to 4 years (mean 3.7 years, standard deviation (SD) 0.6 years) post-stroke was observed (p≤0.001). Two months post-stroke, 76% of patients reported at least one cognitive complaint, 72% at 6 months, and 89% at 4 years post-stroke. A higher level of subjective cognitive complaints at 2 months and lower scores on adaptive and maladaptive psychological factors were significant independent predictors of a higher level of subjective cognitive complaints at 4 years post-stroke. CONCLUSION: Post-stroke subjective cognitive complaints increase over time and can be predicted by the extent of subjective cognitive complaints and the presence of adaptive and maladaptive psychological factors in the early phases after stroke.

Long-term psychosocial outcome following mild traumatic brain injury and minor stroke: a direct longitudinal comparison.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Research suggests comparable long-term psychosocial outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and minor stroke, but no direct comparison has been made. This study aimed to directly compare psychosocial outcome over time in persons with mTBI and minor stroke. METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective longitudinal cohort study, community-dwelling persons with mTBI (n = 182) and minor stroke (n = 48) were assessed at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-injury. Outcome measures included anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-HADS), cognitive problems in daily life (Checklist for Cognitive and Emotional Consequences of Stroke-CLCE-24) and quality of life (EuroQol-5D-5L-EQ-5D-5L). Multilevel growth curve modeling, controlled for demographic variables, was used to determine outcomes over time between groups. Proportions of persons reporting persistent psychosocial symptoms at 6 months post-injury were compared using Pearson's Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Improvements in outcomes were observed in the first 6 months and effects stabilized to 12 months post-injury in both groups. Minor stroke cases reported significantly higher levels of HADS anxiety and a significantly reduced increase in EQ-5D-5L utility scores than mTBI cases, but differences were small in absolute numbers. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding HADS depression and CLCE-24 cognition scores. Proportions of persons reporting persistent psychosocial symptoms were equal between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial outcome is largely comparable following mTBI and minor stroke. Specific attention should be paid to anxiety symptoms and cognitive problems in daily life for which uniform aftercare seems appropriate.

Economic evaluation of nurse-led stroke aftercare addressing long-term psychosocial outcome: a comparison to care-as-usual.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cost-effectiveness of nurse-led stroke aftercare addressing psychosocial outcome at 6 months post stroke, compared with care-as-usual. DESIGN: Economic evaluation within a comparative effectiveness research design. SETTING: Primary care (2016-2017) and community settings (2011-2013) in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Persons who suffered from ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, or a transient ischaemic attack and were discharged home after visiting the emergency department, hospitalisation or inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Nurse-led stroke aftercare at 6 months post stroke addressing psychosocial functioning by providing screening, psycho-education, emotional support and referral to specialist care when needed. Care-as-usual concerned routine follow-up care including secondary prevention programmes and a consultation with the neurologist at 6 weeks post stroke. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measure of cost-effectiveness was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) estimated by the quality of life measured by the five-dimensional, three-level EuroQol. Costs were assessed using a cost-questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and social participation (Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation) restrictions subscale. RESULTS: Health outcomes were significantly better in stroke aftercare for QALYs (Δ=0.05; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.09) and social participation (Δ=4.91; 95% CI 1.89 to 7.93) compared with care-as-usual. Total societal costs were €1208 higher in stroke aftercare than in care-as-usual (95% CI -€3881 to €6057). Healthcare costs were in total €1208 higher in stroke aftercare than in care-as-usual (95% CI -€3881 to €6057). Average costs of stroke aftercare were €91 (SD=€3.20) per person. Base case cost-effectiveness analyses showed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €24 679 per QALY gained. Probability of stroke aftercare being cost-effective was 64% on a €50 000 willingness-to-pay level. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led stroke aftercare addressing psychosocial functioning showed to be a low-cost intervention and is likely to be a cost-effective addition to care-as-usual. It plays an important role by screening and addressing psychosocial problem, not covered by usual care.

Early cognitive and emotional outcome after stroke is independent of discharge destination.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive and emotional problems occur frequently after stroke. Patients with minor stroke are more likely to be discharged home. This paper compares early cognitive and emotional outcomes in patients discharged home after stroke versus patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation, and examines the effect of cognitive and emotional outcomes on long-term participation. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective cohort study, patients with stroke were assessed at two months with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Checklist for Cognitive and Emotional Consequences following Stroke (CLCE-24) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). One year post stroke, participation was assessed with the Restriction subscale of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P Restriction). RESULTS: The study included 332 patients. Two months post stroke, anxiety and cognitive problems were equally prevalent among patients discharged home (n = 243; 73%) and patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (n = 89; 27%) (HADS-A = 4.8 ± 3.9 versus 4.6 ± 4.0, p = 0.747; MoCA < 26: 66.7% versus 70.8%, p = 0.477; CLCE-cognition = 3.0 ± 2.9 versus 3.3 ± 2.8, p = 0.499). Depressive symptoms were less severe in patients discharged home (HADS-D = 4.3 ± 3.9 versus 5.5 ± 3.8, p = 0.010). In patients discharged home, cognitive complaints were predictive of long-term participation (B = - 2.03; 95% CI - 3.15, - 0.90), while cognitive or emotional outcomes were not predictive in patients discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive and emotional problems at two months post stroke were comparable between patients discharged home and those discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. For patients discharged home, cognitive complaints were predictive of long-term participation.

Course of Social Participation in the First 2 Years After Stroke and Its Associations With Demographic and Stroke-Related Factors.

BACKGROUND: Many persons with stroke experience physical, cognitive, and emotional problems that contribute to restrictions in social participation. There is, however, a lack of knowledge on the long-term course of participation over time post-stroke. OBJECTIVE: To describe the time course of participation up to 2 years post-stroke and to identify which demographic and stroke-related factors are associated with this time course. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study following 390 persons with stroke from hospital admission up to 2 years (at 2, 6, 12, and 24 months). Multilevel modeling with linear and quadratic time effects was used to examine the course of the frequency of vocational and social/leisure activities, experienced restrictions, and satisfaction with participation. RESULTS: The frequency of vocational activities increased up to 1 year post-stroke and leveled off thereafter. Older and lower-educated persons showed less favorable courses of participation than younger and higher-educated persons, respectively. The frequency of social/leisure activities decreased post-stroke. Participation restrictions declined up to 1 year post-stroke and leveled off thereafter. Persons dependent in activities of daily living (ADL) kept experiencing more restrictions throughout time than independent persons. Satisfaction with participation increased slightly over time. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in participation occurred mostly in the first year post-stroke. Particularly older and lower-educated persons, and those dependent in ADL showed less favorable courses of participation up to 2 years post-stroke. Clinicians can apply these findings in identifying persons most at risk of long-term unfavorable participation outcome and, thus, target rehabilitation programs accordingly.