Treatment Efficacy of Social Communication Skills Training After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Treatment and Deferred Treatment Controlled Trial

Dahlberg CA, Cusick CP, Hawley LA, Newman JK, Morey CE. Harrison-Felix CL, Whiteneck GG. Treatment efficacy of social communication skills training after traumatic brain injury: a randomized treatment and deferred treatment controlled trial.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of a replicable group treatment program to improve social communication skills after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Randomized treatment and deferred treatment controlled trial, with follow-up at 3, 6, and 9 months post-treatment.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Volunteer sample of 52 people with TBI who were at least 1 year postinjury, who received rehabilitation, and who had identified social communication deficits.

Intervention

Twelve weekly group sessions (1.5h each) to improve social communication.

Main Outcome Measures

The Profile of Functional Impairment in Communication (PFIC), Social Communication Skills Questionnaire–Adapted (SCSQ-A), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique–Short Form social integration and occupation subscales, Community Integration Questionnaire social integration and productivity subscales, and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).

Results

Independent samples t test analysis showed significant treatment effect compared with no treatment on 7 of 10 of the PFIC subscales (P range, .024 to <.001) and the SCSQ-A (P=.005) after the first 12 weeks of the study. After 12 weeks of treatment for all participants, repeated-measures analysis showed significant improvements from baseline on 9 of 10 PFIC subscales (P range, .01−.001), SCSQ-A (P≤.001), GAS (P≤.001), and SWLS (P=.011). At 6-month follow-up, scores were significantly better than baseline on 6 of 10 PFIC scales (P range, .01−.001), the SCSQ-A (P≤.001), GAS (P≤.001), and SWLS (P≤.001).

Conclusions

TBI subjects who received social communication skills training had improved communication skills that were maintained on follow-up. Overall life satisfaction for participants was improved.