Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury:
From Theory to Application

Research Grant funded by the Centre for Neuro Skills
Amount: $100,000

Principle Investigator
Fofi Constantinidou, Ph.D.
Miami University
Website
Email

Research Associates
Phil Best, Ph.D.
Robin Thomas, Ph.D.
Miami University

A research team at Miami University, Ohio, is preparing a manuscript on the principles of cognitive rehabilitation. It incorporates neurbiological and cognitive theories on human perception, memory and learning. Furthermore, the neurobiological and cognitive considerations following traumatic brain injury are presented in order to provide principles for cognitive rehabilitation. At the same time, the team is implementing the theoretical underpinnings of cognition to develop a cognitive rehabilitation program.

The cognitive rehabilitation program developed by the team is hierarchical in nature and is based on neurodevelopmental principles. The rehabilitation program should be completed by May 2000. In the meantime, the principle investigator is designing a multi-center study to test the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation and the efficiency of the program. To that end, she is recruiting rehabilitation centers around the country to participate in the clinical trials. Preliminary studies will begin during the summer of 2000. Participating facilities will follow the specific research protocol developed by the team. Staff members will be trained to ensure proper administration and scoring procedures. This will be a randomized study; some subjects will be administered our Cognitive Rehabilitation Program along with the existing treatment protocol of the participating facility and some will receive the existing treatment protocol only. The length of time to complete the study will depend on the patient's level of functioning, stemming from a few weeks to a few months. Results of the study will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals and also presented at scientific conferences.