137 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Using the Blink Reflexometer, athletes are scanned if they are potentially thought to have a concussion during a game or practice.
The purpose of this research is to determine whether military veterans and service members with mild traumatic brain injury with and without co-occurring substance use can complete and benefit from integrated interdisciplinary care individualized to their symptoms, goals, and needs. Participants will complete surveys about substance use and other symptoms at the beginning and end of treatment in an intensive outpatient program and 6 months after discharge.
This study will develop and validate a new ED/Urgent Care discharge educational video that provides positive assurance about mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) recovery for patients with mTBI.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects millions of individuals worldwide every year. It has long been thought that the vast majority of individuals who sustain a mTBI experience natural recovery with little or no intervention and return to baseline functioning within days to weeks of injury. However, recent large studies have demonstrated that a substantial number of individuals experience prolonged symptoms (e.g., cognitive impairment, headaches, affective symptoms). These symptoms, termed "Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms" (PPCS) are associated with significant functional disability and reduced quality of life (QOL) and can last for years post-injury. While PPCS can include affective, cognitive, and somatosensory/vestibular symptoms, objective and subjective cognitive symptoms - particularly in the domains of attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function - are among the most commonly reported following mTBI. There is currently no gold-standard intervention to address these symptoms. To address this gap, our research group developed a brief cognitive rehabilitation intervention called Tools for Rehabilitation and Cognitive Care (or On-TRACC). The goals of this clinical trial are: AIM 1: Compare the efficacy of On-TRACC to a psychoeducation control on reduction of self-reported cognitive post-concussive symptoms (Aim 1.1) and overall neurobehavioral post concussive symptoms and (Aim 1.2) following treatment and at 3-month follow-up (Aim 1.3) in a randomized clinical trial of community-dwelling adults with mTBI. AIM 2: Compare the efficacy of On-TRACC and psychoeducation on change in secondary outcomes, including cognitive self-efficacy, compensatory strategy use, self-management skills, and quality of life at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. Exploratory AIM 3: Compare the efficacy of On-TRACC and psychoeducation on: primary and secondary outcomes at 6-months post-treatment and (Aim 3.1) explore whether engaging in On-TRACC leads to subsequent engagement in care by assessing whether there is a different level of participation in optional intervention booster sessions in the post-intervention period (Aim 3.2). All participants will: * Complete a series of assessments * Complete 6 treatment sessions via telehealth (either On-TRACC or psychoeducation) All participants will have the option of: * Attending weekly "Booster Sessions" between 3 and 6-months post-treatment * Completing neuropsychological assessments at 2 timepoints during the study
Current clinical assessment tools are often not sensitive enough to detect and treat some subtle (yet troubling) problems after mTBI. In this study, the investigators will use wearable sensors to both assess and treat people with mTBI. Specifically, the investigators will provide immediate feedback, with visual and/or auditory, on movement quality during physical therapy. This immediate feedback on performance may improve outcomes as the investigators will measure multiple body segments including head movements simultaneously with balance and walking exercises. Such complex movements are needed for safe return to high level activity and military duty. The investigators will test this approach against a standard vestibular rehabilitation program. There are few potential risks to this study such as increasing symptoms and a small fall risk. Benefits include physical therapy for balance problems regardless of therapy with or without biofeedback. An indirect benefit is to have data on correct dosage of physical therapy. The investigators will also distinguish which concussion subtype profiles benefit most from physical therapy. This will help healthcare providers and patients by providing more information to help establish clinical guidelines and new tools for physical therapy.
One of the most pressing concerns within the VA currently is the provision of interventions that address the cognitive as well as emotional problems faced by Veterans with concurrent mild TBI and PTSD. One purpose of this study is to learn more about how PTSD and mild brain injury influences how people think, act, and feel. This may include how people pay attention, keep information in memory, organize plans for achieving important goals, and manage stress. Another purpose of this research is to learn more about the effects of cognitive training on the thinking, behavior, and emotions of individuals with PTSD and mild brain injury - both in the short- and long-term. With this research, the investigators hope to better understand and treat cognitive and emotional difficulties that can occur due to PTSD and mild brain injury.
The use of Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) would be a new treatment plan rather than conventional rest. If effective, this new use technology would add to the clinical treatment among mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients. The use of a point of care Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) biomarker would aid in clinical decision making to create a new care plan of return to sport among unarmed combat athletes who suffer from mTBI. The innovation would be a new treatment and diagnosis strategy that will protect these athletes from serious long-term sequelae. There are no published randomized controlled studies using HBOT to treat concussed athletes within one week of injury. There are no published studies using GFAP levels to predict post concussive symptoms (PCS).
Purpose: Investigators propose a three-arm RCT across two military treatment facilities:1) in-person STAR-C, 2) telehealth STAR-C, and 3) no treatment control. Outcomes will be assessed immediately and at one- and three-months post treatment. Hypothesis/Objectives: STAR-C, delivered in-person and via telehealth, will be effective in decreasing everyday cognitive complaints among patients with a history of mTBI. Effectiveness will be moderated by patient characteristics. Stakeholder feedback will yield a process map for broad implementation of STAR-C in varied clinical environments.
The purpose of this study is to develop and validate ways to provide better patient education and clinical management for individuals who go to the emergency department (ED) with concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
This study aims to compare symptom provocation, physiologic response, and rate of perceived (RPE) between the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) and a Modified Dynamic Exertion (mEXiT) test after sport related concussion in adolescents aged 14-17. Participants will be enrolled at their initial concussion clinical visit within 14 days of their injury, and randomly assigned to either the BCTT or mEXiT group. Participants will complete a single visit.
This study aims to examine the long-term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, on chronic headaches following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). rTMS has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic headaches without side effects commonly seen in medications, such as sleepiness and addiction. This study uses rTMS to manage chronic headaches to improve post-concussion symptoms and reduce the economic burden due to delayed recovery. This project aims to better identify biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis and maximize recovery from mTBI.
The investigators previously developed a virtual 14-day dual-task walking exercise program and tested its feasibility with individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history. The investigators will test the feasibility and efficacy of a mobile app-version (Uplode) of the same 14-day exercise program (Brain \& Walk Exercise Every Day \[BraW-Day\]), on cognition, sensorimotor, and other functions in a group of voluntary young adults with an mTBI between last three months to two years, including student athletes, Veterans, and ethnic minorities.
The purpose of this study is to examine the role of a Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) examination in identifying participants diagnosed with concussion who display a directional preference compared to who don't display a directional preference.
The purpose of this study is to conduct the first randomized control trial for targeted treatments for concussion in adults 50 years or older. Participants will be enrolled at their first concussion clinical visit (V1) and their second study visit will occur after (up to 7 days) or concurrently with the participant's second concussion clinical visit, typically (but not limited to) between 21-31 days from V1.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, is a common injury sustained by Veterans. While most individuals who sustain mTBI experience a complete recovery within several weeks of injury, many Veterans with history of mTBI report frequent and long-lasting neurobehavioral complaints and functional impairment. Though research suggests that these outcomes are strongly influenced by co-occurring conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and chronic pain, evidence-based interventions capable of addressing this wide array of concerns are lacking. This study seeks to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of a brief and flexible behavioral health treatment (Problem-Solving Training for Concussion, or PST-Concussion), which was designed to be delivered by generalist providers working in VA primary care settings. If PST-Concussion is shown to be effective, this skills-focused intervention may help improve Veterans' recovery experience following mTBI.
This project will measure concussion symptoms, biological markers, and academic and social factors across the first year postconcussion to develop a model that enables early identification of and symptom management for children at higher risk for persistent postconcussive symptoms. Findings will provide novel insights into the longer-term effects of concussion on children's physical, psychological, and social well-being and support the development of personalized healthcare and school-based plans to reduce disparities in children's ability to return-to-learn and -play and improve postconcussion quality of life.
Analysis of cardiac induced brain forces using cranial accelerometry has been shown to diagnose concussion in high school athletes. This trial expands on this observation by recording headpulse signals in a recently concussed athletes playing Australian rules football.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often causes persistent motor and cognitive deficits in children resulting in functional limitations. We are testing a brain stimulation method along with evaluating objective tools to help record and restore communication among affected brain areas, which will facilitate recovery in youth after mTBI.
The investigators hope to develop a treatment for suicidal ideation (SI), impulsivity and functional impairments (such as difficulties in social and work settings) that occur after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These conditions have been shown to be linked. The investigators are using a high-powered magnetic pulse, called intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) applied to the head to see if it can improve these symptoms. The high-powered magnetic pulse causes certain cells in the brain to activate, which seems to strengthen connections between parts of the brain. The purpose of this research is to gather early information on the safety and effectiveness of iTBS provided to the front of the head for impulsivity, SI and functional deficits after mTBI. The investigators plan to use the data collected in this study to develop larger studies in the future. iTBS is FDA approved, but not for these specific symptoms, or in the specific location the investigators are placing it. The investigators are testing to see if its effective for the above conditions when applied to the front of the head.
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the feasibility, utility, and efficacy of a smartphone-based assessment battery and remotely administered virtual Neuromuscular/Dual-Task (vNDT) intervention among healthy U.S. military service members and physically active young adults with a recent concussion.
The purpose of this study is to develop a highly portable, ruggedized diagnostic tool for concussion, EyeBOX Lens (EBLens), that can be utilized in deployed field and far-forward settings. The EBLens will be based on a concussion diagnostic algorithm from the FDA cleared EyeBOX device, developed by Oculogica, and eye-tracking data collected from a wearable set of eye-tracking glasses, developed by Adhawk Microsystems. Once the EBLens is prototyped, an algorithm for diagnosing concussion will be developed that is specifically appropriate for the EBLens via a case-control clinical study comparing 100 concussed to 100 non-concussed subjects (Phase I). Participants, age 18-35 years, will be recruited from the KACH research team and affiliated providers and clinical sites. Concussed individuals will be assessed within 72 hours of concussion. Demographics, basic medical history, symptom severity, a visio-vestibular exam and the EBLens scan will be collected on both injured cases and uninjured controls at a single time point. The algorithm and the EBLens will be validated in a subsequent, prospective cohort validation study (Phase II) designed for FDA submission. The correlation of the EBLens output with resolution of symptoms will also be observed in longitudinal follow-up of concussed participants in the validation study. The participant population for this study will be cadets recruited from the USMA and young athletes recruited from affiliated sites during baseline concussion testing. Participants will be assessed at baseline at the start of their academic year or sports season. Those participants who experience a concussive injury will be assessed again at three time points; 1) within 72 hours of injury, 2) weekly until and at the time of initiation of a graded return to activity protocol, and 3) upon clearance for unrestricted RTP/RTD.
This study will probe if the biological changes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are related to a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and blood-derived biomarker tools. Participants who Do as well as those who Do Not have a history of mTBI will be enrolled in the study.
Aerobic exercise has emerged as an effective treatment to reduce sport-related concussion symptom severity, yet existing work lacks rigor regarding the precise exercise volume and intensity required to elicit therapeutic effects, how exercise can alter concussion-related pathophysiology, and whether exercise can prevent the development of secondary sequelae. Our objective is to examine if a high dose exercise program (higher volume than currently prescribed at an individualized, safe intensity level) initiated within 14 days of concussion results in faster symptom resolution, altered physiological function, or reduced secondary sequalae. Findings from this research will lead to more rigorous and precise rehabilitation guidelines and improved understanding about how exercise affects neurophysiological function among adolescents with concussion.
Our successful R01 discovered 1) the neural mechanistic difference between typically occurring convergence insufficiency (TYP-CI) and binocularly normal controls and 2) the underlying mechanism of office-based vergence and accommodative therapy (OBVAT) that is effective in remediating symptoms. Adolescent and young adult concussion is considered a substantial health problem in the United States where our team has shown that about half of patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms have convergence insufficiency (PPCS-CI), causing significant negative impact associated with reading or digital screen-related activities, and is believed to be one factor causing delayed recovery impacting return to school, sports, or work. The results of this randomized clinical trial will impact the lives of adolescents and young adults with PPCS-CI to guide professionals on how to manage and treat those with PPCS-CI by 1) comparing the differences between PPCS-CI and TYP-CI, 2) discovering the neural mechanism of OBVAT for PPCS-CI compared to standard-community concussion care, and 3) determining the effectiveness of 12 one-hour sessions compared to 16 one-hour sessions of OBVAT.
Throughout the course of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 250,000 service members sustained traumatic brain injuries, mostly characterized as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) or concussions. While most with mTBI recover over days to weeks, a significant percentage continue to experience post-concussive symptoms such as headaches, cognitive difficulties, and dizziness for months to years. As a result, treatment of post-concussive symptoms after mTBI is of significant importance in the Department of Defense and Veterans healthcare systems. Several studies have shown that cognitive rehabilitation can be effective for individuals with mTBI, including Service Members and Veterans with post concussive symptoms. Cognitive rehabilitation is a type of treatment in which patients work with a therapist to improve everyday memory and thinking skills and develop strategies to reduce the impact of cognitive difficulties in their everyday lives. While these treatments have great potential benefits, protocols studied to date are time intensive, requiring up to 60 hours of treatment. These time demands are impractical for many Service Members and Veterans, and place a time-burden on clinics providing the treatment. The current study proposes to identify key ingredients of an evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation protocol to develop a streamlined version that is feasible and acceptable to Service Members and Veterans. This briefer protocol will increase the number of Service Members and Veterans who can access treatment. To accomplish this goal the investigators will first spend six months analyzing manualized treatments from a successful cognitive rehabilitation intervention developed for Service Members. The investigators will analyze manuals using a framework developed to identify active ingredients in rehabilitation. Based on those results the investigators will develop a manualized streamlined treatment protocol, which the investigators will deliver to 25 Service Members and 50 Veterans over 18 months in person or via telehealth. The investigators will determine feasibility and acceptability of this intervention, and collect preliminary efficacy data. The project addresses access to therapy services and enhanced treatment compliance, a key barrier to participation in cognitive rehabilitation by Veterans and Service Members with TBI. Additionally, although this study focuses on Service Members and Veterans with mTBI, the investigators expect that this streamlined intervention can also be translated to civilian populations with mTBI.
The investigators propose to develop a software platform, OnTRACK (Online Treatment Recovery Assistance for Concussion in Kids), for children and adolescents recovering from concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The platform includes a mobile application (app) for the patients and their care team (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.), a database server, and a decision support dashboard for healthcare providers. The OnTRACK app prompts the patient to report post-concussion symptoms across recovery in two distinct but equally important ways: a weekly cross-recovery graded symptom ratings to track overall recovery progress, and short-term daily dynamic exertional symptom responses to guide tolerable daily activity. Teachers and parents and other authorized members of the patient care team also report patient progress when prompted. Beyond symptom reporting, the app provides access to education in the form of short multimedia clips that cover various topics related to concussion recovery based on the PACE (Progressive Activities of Controlled Exertion) model. Using several large existing datasets on recovery trajectories, the serial symptom reports indicate (a) level of symptom severity, change over time, and whether recovery is following a typical or atypical pattern. The healthcare provider is regularly updated regarding recovery progress and, if an atypical pattern is reported, he/she receives an alert to assess further and consider referral for additional treatment. To guide daily recovery, OnTRACK uses empirically-derived algorithms to determine when the level of symptom exacerbation reaches a certain threshold, delivering an alert to the healthcare provider who can give feedback to the child to manage daily activities and reduce disruptive symptoms. The primary goal of the OnTRACK system is to afford the healthcare provider, patient, and family greater confidence with data-driven decisions upon which to follow evidence-based treatment guidelines and to improve communication between family and provider.
Objective: This 3-year multisite RCT will determine the effectiveness of a targeted multidomain intervention (T-MD) (anxiety/mood, cognitive, migraine, ocular, vestibular; and sleep, autonomic) compared to usual care (behavioral management) in military-aged civilians with complex mTBI.
This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial in which subjects with a post concussive headache meeting inclusion criterion will be assigned to one of two treatment groups: placebo or nortriptyline. Each group will be evaluated at week 0 and again each week for the next 4 weeks of treatment with a concussion survey that rates their symptoms. At the end of 4 weeks the study will be unblinded. It is hypothesized that the addition of nortriptyline to the standard headache treatments will result in more rapid decrease of symptom score than with placebo.
The investigators will test the central hypotheses according to the following Specific Aims: Aim 1. Determine if an individually prescribed exercise program initiated within the first week of mild traumatic brain injury can reduce the risk of developing persistent post-concussion symptoms relative to usual care. The investigators hypothesize that the exercise group will have a lower risk of developing persistent post-concussion symptoms than the usual care group. Aim 2. Examine the effect of a two-month exercise program on psycho-social, pain interference, and sleep outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury. The investigators hypothesize the exercise group will report lower anxiety, depression, and pain interference ratings, and higher peer relationship and sleep quality ratings two months of exercise following mild traumatic brain injury compared to usual care.
The objective of this study is to further evaluate eye movements as an aid in the diagnosis of concussion / mTBI and the utility of eye movement assessment in the monitoring of symptoms over time after an initial diagnosis of concussion.