News and Events!!
Save The Date
2nd Annual Traumatic Brain Injury Artist Showcase
July 6th - July 11th, 2010
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Seattle, Washington
Visit our TBI Forum page for details and a schedule of upcoming forum events. Watch videos of past TBI Forum presenters.
Welcome to the University of Washington TBI Model System. The Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS), headquartered at the University of Washington's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, is one of 16 such centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Our goal is to promote the health, well being, and recovery of persons with TBI by applying knowledge gained from cutting edge research into our clinical care of patients with TBI. The University of Washington TBI Model System contributes to the national Traumatic Brain Injury Data Center at Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO, participates in independent and collaborative research, and provides information and resources to individuals with TBI, their family and care givers, health care professionals and the general public.
Life Improvement Following Traumatic Brain Injury (LIFT)
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After a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), many people experience symptoms including low mood, poor energy, loss of interest in usual activities, and changes in appetite and sleep. LIFT uses a particular approach to education and counseling, called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This type of counseling has been used to effectively treat these symptoms with people who have not had a brain injury. LIFT is investigating whether these same strategies can also help people who have had a TBI. Researchers hope to find out if counseling can help people with a TBI get back to activities they enjoy, develop positive mental habits, and improve overall quality of life. Eligible participants will be enrolled in the study for 16 weeks, with a follow-up phone call 8 weeks later.
The aim of this pilot study is to test the effectiveness of a telephone-based and in-person Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) following Traumatic Brain Injury. Participants are randomized to one of three groups: 1) Telephone-based CBT, 2) In-person CBT, or 3) Usual care (control). Participants choose a randomization option that includes the groups to which he/she would like to be randomized:
-Option 1: Telephone-based CBT versus Usual Care
-Option 2: In-person CBT versus Usual Care
-Option 3: In-person CBT versus Telephone-based CBT versus Usual Care
Participants randomized to either the telephone or in-person CBT groups will participate in 12 treatments sessions over 16 weeks. Treatment sessions will last approximately 45 minutes. Participants assigned to the control arm will NOT receive the 12 CBT sessions. All participants will be asked to participate in the telephone assessments at 8, 16, and 24 weeks following the baseline assessment. Telephone assessments will include questions about participants’ mood, activities, general health, and other symptoms.
This study does not accept healthy volunteers. Participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- at least 18 years of age
- sustained a complicated mild, moderate, or severe TBI within the last 5 years
- speak English fluently
- meet screening criteria for probable major depression
Exclusion criteria for this study are:
- does not have a telephone
- does not have a stable home
- history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
- current diagnosis of psychosis or suicidal intent
- evidence of significant cognitive impairment on neuropsychological testing
- currently in psychotherapy for depression, or planning to start psychotherapy for depression during the 16 week study
Participants will be paid up to $100 for their time and participation. For questions about LIFT, or to be considered for this study, please contact Kenneth Marshall at (206) 744-3609 or 1-866-577-1925.
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DO YOU EXPERIENCE MOOD SWINGS or IRRITABILITY?
HAVE YOU NOTICED CHANGES IN YOUR BEHAVIOR SINCE YOUR BRAIN INJURY?
You may be eligible to participate in a research study conducted by the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System at the University of Washington. If your brain injury occurred at least 6 months ago, you are between the ages of 18 and 65, and you have experienced irritability since your brain injury, for more information please contact:
Aaron Scrol: 206-616-0334 or by email at ascrol@u.washington.edu