NCT01935609

Evaluation of a Skill-Building, Supportive, and Educational Intervention for Couples

Evaluation of a Skill-Building, Supportive, and Educational Intervention for Couples (a Research Project Within the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Grant)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (actual)
• Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

1. To evaluate the efficacy of a structured outpatient couples intervention program (Therapeutic Couples Intervention, TCI) on couples' marital quality after acquired brain injury (ABI). 2. To assess the impact of the TCI on the emotional well-being of persons with ABI and their partners. 3. To ascertain the impact of the TCI on caregiver burden and unmet needs as reported by partners of persons with ABI. 4. To examine the extent to which treatment benefits for survivors and their caregiving partners are sustained in the longer-term.

Detailed description

Much of the research on acquired brain injury (ABI) has focused on survivors, especially functional and neurobehavioral outcomes. In recent years, researchers have begun to develop and evaluate interventions designed to improve whole family functioning. Studies have demonstrated that intervention can increase survivors' and family members' problem solving skills, met needs, emotional adjustment, and perceptions about the quality of rehabilitation services. Research suggests at least one of every three survivors is in a martial or coupled relationship at the time of injury. The literature examining postinjury marital breakdown has yielded widely varying results with estimates of breakdown rates ranging from 15%-78%. Whereas early studies suggested a majority of marriages ended in divorce, more recent studies have indicated that marital breakdown rates for people with brain injury are substantially lower than the general population. At the same time, research has generated concern that while many people remain together the quality of the relationship is sorely diminished. There is little doubt that healthy marriages and intimate relationships are important elements of our society. Further, research in other medical disciplines has proven the positive impact marital quality has on marital stability, emotional well-being, caregiver burden, and family needs. Existing study has similarly established the sustained benefits of promoting marital quality through intervention. Given the documented adverse impacts of brain injury, there is a clear need for effective interventions to improve and maintain the quality of coupled relationships. To improve couples' relationship quality after ABI, and to target emotional well-being and caregiver burden, VCU researchers developed a curriculum-based program for couples (Therapeutic Couples Intervention, TCI). The study addresses issues and challenges commonly confronting couples after brain injury. Relationship quality is a primary focus of the study with the perceptions of both partners analyzed, allowing an understanding of individual viewpoints and those of the couple as a whole. Objectives include: 1. to evaluate the efficacy of a structured outpatient couples intervention program (TCI) on couples' marital quality 2. to assess the impact of the TCI on the emotional well-being of persons with ABI and their partners 3. to ascertain the impact of the TCI on caregiver burden and unmet needs as reported by partners of persons with ABI 4. to examine the extent to which treatment benefits for survivors and their caregiving partners are sustained in the longer-term

Conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Acquired Brain Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Couples counseling	Intervention to promote couples' adjustment (TCI) - The TCI was developed based upon considerable clinical experience and research review. The TCI is a structured approach to helping couples after brain injury address issues related to relationship quality and emotional well-being. The TCI is implemented in five or six (optional parenting session) session. Each session is in-person and lasts for 120 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-03-01
• Primary completion: 2016-09-28
• Completion: 2016-09-28
• First posted: 2013-09-05
• Last updated: 2017-10-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States