NCT04054596

Strategy Based Technique to Enhance Memory (STEM) for Improving New Learning and Memory (NLM) in Moderate to Severe TBI

Strategy Based Technique to Enhance Memory (STEM) for Improving New Learning and Memory (NLM) in Moderate to Severe TBI: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (actual)
• Sponsor: Kessler Foundation · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a memory enhancement technique in persons with a Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI). The study is designed to research how well this technique can help people with TBI improve their memory and their ability to function better in everyday life

Detailed description

Impairments in higher level cognitive processing, such as new learning and memory, are common in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)and negatively impact multiple aspects of everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. Despite this, few studies have attempted to remediate these cognitive deficits in order to improve everyday functioning. While not applied in traditional rehabilitation protocols as of yet, many techniques from cognitive psychology significantly improve learning and memory in healthy persons. These techniques include the generation effect (GE), the spacing effect (SE), and the testing effect (TE). These techniques have recently been incorporated into an 8-session treatment protocol, Stylistic Memory Enhancement (SME), designed to teach participants about each of the techniques, train them on how to apply the techniques in daily life and practice their application to daily life memory demanding situations. The protocol includes teaching participants how to restructure a memory demanding situation in order to make optimal use of self-generation, spaced learning and self-testing.

Conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	SME	The treatment group (TX) will complete 8 sessions of SME (2 sessions per week for 4 weeks), de-signed to teach the concepts of SG, SL and RP and the application of these techniques in daily life. Sessions are approximately 30-45 minutes long.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-12-01
• Primary completion: 2024-07-31
• Completion: 2024-07-31
• First posted: 2019-08-13
• Last updated: 2025-03-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States