Comparison of TBI and CVA outcomes: Durability of gains following post-hospital neurological rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: With the effectiveness of post-hospital brain injury rehabilitation clearly demonstrated, research focus has shifted to durability of treatment gains over time. OBJECTIVE: Study objectives were threefold: (1) examined the stability of outcomes following post-hospital rehabilitation for persons with acquired brain injury, (2) compare differences in short and long-term outcome for TBI and CVA groups, and (3) identify predictors of long-term outcomes. METHODS: Subjects (n = 108) were selected from 2,177 neurologically impaired adults with consecutive discharges from 18 post-hospital programs in 12 states from 2011 through 2019. The study sample included TBI, CVA, and Mixed neurological groups. All persons were evaluated using the Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory -4 Participation Index at four assessment intervals: admission, discharge, and 3 and 12 month follow-up. Additional analyses included repeated measures 2x4 design addressing TBI and CVA by the four measurement periods, and hierarchical multiple regression to identify outcome predictors. RESULTS: The total sample demonstrated a reduction in Participation T-scores (indicating less disability) from admission to discharge. Reductions in disability were maintained at the 3 and 12 month follow-up assessments (Greenhouse-Geisser F (2.37) = 76.87, p < 0.001, partial eta2 = 0.418, power to detect = 0.99). The CVA group demonstrated greater disability at each assessment interval, however, those differences were not statistically significant. Significant predictors of outcome at 12 months post-discharge were length of stay in program and type of injury. TBIs with longer length of stay experienced better outcome at 12 months than non-TBIs with shorter length of stays (hierarchical multiple regression adjusted R2 = 0.085, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Post-hospital residential neurorehabilitation programs provide a return on investment. Gains are realized from admission to discharge, and maintained one year following discharge from rehabilitation.

Depression following traumatic brain injury: Impact on post-hospital residential rehabilitation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: A need exists to better understand the impact of depression on functional outcomes following TBI. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of depression among a large group of chronic TBI adults; to determine the impact of depression on outcomes of post-hospital residential rehabilitation programs; and to assess effectiveness of post-hospital residential rehabilitation programs in treating depression. METHODS: 820 adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were assigned to one of four groups based on MPAI- 4 depression ratings: (1) Not Depressed, (2) Mildly Depressed, (3) Moderately Depressed, and (4) Severely Depressed. Functional status was assessed at admission and discharge with the MPAI-4 Participation Index. Differences among groups were evaluated using conventional parametric tests. Rasch analysis established reliability and validity of MPAI-4 data. RESULTS: Rasch analysis demonstrated satisfactory construct validity and internal consistency (Person reliability = 0.89-0.92, Item reliability = 0.99). Of the 820 subjects, 39% presented with moderate to severe depressive symptoms at admission, These subjects demonstrated significantly higher MPAI-4 Participation scores than the mild and not depressed groups. Depressed groups realized significant improvement in symptoms, but, those remaining depressed at discharge had significantly greater disability than those who improved. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms had a deleterious impact on outcome. Remediation of symptoms during rehabilitation significantly improved outcomes.

Neurologic continuum of care: Evidence-based model of a post-hospital system of care.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing need for a well-organized continuum of post-hospital rehabilitative care to reduce long term disability resulting from acquired brain injury. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effectiveness of four levels of post-hospital care (active neurorehabilitation, neurobehavioral intensive, day treatment, and supported living) and the functional variables most important to their success. METHODS: Participants were 1276 adults with acquired brain injury who were being treated in one of the four program levels. A Repeated Measures MANOVA was used to evaluate change from admission to discharge on the Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 T-scores. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Statistical improvement on the MPAI-4 was observed at each program level. Self-care and Initiation were the strongest predictors of outcome. CONCLUSION: The results support the effectiveness of a continuum of care for acquired brain injury individuals beyond hospitalization and acute in-hospital rehabilitation. It is particularly noteworthy that reduction in disability was achieved for all levels of programming even with participants whose onset to admission exceeded 7 years post-injury.

Traumatic brain injury: analysis of functional deficits and posthospital rehabilitation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Advances in emergency medicine, both in the field and in trauma centers, have dramatically increased survival rates of persons sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, these advances have come with the realization that many survivors are living with significant residual deficits in multiple areas of functioning, which make the resumption of a quality lifestyle extremely difficult. To this point, TBI has recently been characterized as a chronic disease. As with other chronic diseases, TBI is often causative of persistent disabling symptoms in multiple organ systems. Therefore, posthospital residential rehabilitation programs have emerged to treat these symptoms with the goal of helping these individuals regain function and live more productive and independent lives. PURPOSE: This study examined the nature and severity of residual deficits experienced by a group of 285 brain-injured individuals and evaluate the efficacy of posthospital residential rehabilitation programs in treating those deficits. METHOD: Participants consisted of 285 individuals who had sustained a TBI and, due to multiple residual deficits, were unable to care for themselves, necessitating admission to residential posthospital rehabilitation programs. All participants were evaluated at admission and discharge on the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory?Version 4 (MPAI-4). The MPAI-4, developed specifically for persons with acquired brain injury, measures 29 areas of function often affected by TBI. RESULTS: From the 29 skills evaluated, the 12 most often rated as causing the greatest interference with function were identified. Of these skills, the cognitive deficits including memory, attention/concentration, novel problem solving, and awareness of deficits were highly correlated with disruption in performing everyday societal roles. The impact of treatment for reducing the level of disability in these areas was statistically significant, t(284) = 17.43, p < .0001. Improvement was significant even for participants admitted more than 1 year postinjury, t(78) = 8.05, p < .0001. CONCLUSIONS: Skill deficits interfering with reintegration into home and community are highly interrelated and should be treated with the understanding that progress in one area may be dependent on change in another area. Cognitive skills including memory, attention/ concentration, novel problem solving, and awareness of deficits were highly correlated with measures of overall functional outcome. Posthospital programs using a multidisciplinary treatment approach achieved significant reduction in disability from program admission to discharge. The benefits of these programs were realized even for the most chronically-impaired participants.