Examining the Usability of a Computerized Cognitive Training Program in People with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study

Research Topic:

Poster Presentation:
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90(10), 
e18-e19

Matthew Lebowitz, Joshua Cantor, Wayne Gordon, Lisa Spielman, Teresa Ashman, Theodore Tsaousides and Laila Spina
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and utility of a program of computerized cognitive exercises as an intervention for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Pilot pre-post study.

Setting: Participants’ homes in an urban community.

Participants: 8 individuals with mild to severe TBI who were 8 months to 22 years post- injury (M=125.75 months, SD=36.6).

Main Outcome Measures: Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM 4), a validated computerized neuropsychological battery that tests processing speed, working memory, attention, encoding, spatial processing, and accuracy. Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FRSBE), User Experience Survey (UES).

Conclusions: Computerized speed and attention training may be a viable intervention for outpatients with TBI. The intervention can be delivered in patients’ homes with support provided remotely. Further study in randomized trials is warranted.