Raj, SP; Shultz, EL; Zang, H; Zhang, N; Kirkwood, MW; Taylor, HG; Stancin, T; Yeates, KO; Wade, SL. Effects of Web-Based Parent Training on Caregiver Functioning Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury A Randomized Control Trial. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2018; 33(6):E19-E29.
This study examined the effects of a Web-based parenting intervention (I-InTERACT), and an abbreviated version (Express), on caregiver depression, psychological distress, parenting stress, and parenting efficacy in a sample of 148 caregivers of 113 children aged 3 to 9 years with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Findings indicated that caregivers with elevated levels of depression in I-InTERACT experienced significantly greater reductions in depression scores compared with caregivers in the active control condition.
Smith-Paine, J; Wade, SL; Treble-Barna, A; Zhang, N; Zang, H; Martin, LJ; Yeates, KO; Taylor, HG; Kurowski, BG. The Moderating Effect of the Ankyrin Repeat and Kinase Domain Containing One Gene on the Association of Family Environment with Longitudinal Executive Function following Traumatic Brain Injury in Early Childhood A Preliminary Study. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018; 35(23):2796-2802.
This study examined whether the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 gene (ANKK1) C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1800497 moderated the association of family environment with long-term executive function (EF) following traumatic injury in early childhood. At 7 years post-injury, analyses revealed a significant two-way interaction of genotype with level of authoritarian parenting. Post hoc analyses found that carriers of the risk allele had significantly poorer EF compared with non-carriers only when they were from more advantaged environments. These results suggest a gene-environment interaction involving the ANKK1 gene as a predictor of EF in a pediatric injury population. The findings highlight the importance of considering environmental influences in future genetic studies on recovery following TBI and other traumatic injuries in childhood.
Kurowski, BG; Epstein, JN; Pruitt, DW; Horn, PS; Altaye, M; Wade, SL. Benefits of Methylphenidate for Long-Term Attention Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury in Childhood A Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Titration, Crossover Trial. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2019; 34(2):E1-E12.
The objective of this study was to characterize the benefits and optimal dose of long-acting methylphenidate for management of long-term attention problems after childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although attention problems are common after pediatric brain injury, there is a paucity of evidence-based treatments. This study uniquely utilized a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, dos-titration, cross-over clinical trial design. Findings support the use of long-acting methylphenidate for management of long-term attention problems after pediatric TBI. Larger trials are warranted of stimulant medications, including comparative effectiveness and combination medication and non-medication interventions.
Zhang, N; Kaizar, EE; Narad, ME; Kurowski, BG; Yeates, KO; Taylor, HG; Wade, SL. Examination of Injury, Host, and Social-Environmental Moderators of Online Family Problem Solving Treatment Efficacy for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Using an Individual Participant Data Meta-Analytic Approach. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2019; 36(7):1147-1155.
This study reported the results of an individual participant data meta-analysis of five randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of online family problem-solving treatment (OFPST) conducted between 2002 and 2015 involving 359 children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 years. These analyses revealed statistically strong evidence that parental education, child age at baseline, IQ, sex, and parental depression level pre-treatment moderated the effect of OFPST on various outcomes. Our findings indicate that the optimal application of OFPST is likely to involve older children, those with lower IQ scores, or those from families with lower socioeconomic status (SES).
Aguilar, JM; Cassedy, AE; Shultz, EL; Kirkwood, MW; Stancin, T; Yeates, KO; Taylor, HG; Wade, SL. A Comparison of 2 Online Parent Skills Training Interventions for Early Childhood Brain Injury Improvements in Internalizing and Executive Function Behaviors. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2019; 34(2):65-76.
This study examined the effectiveness of a web-based parenting intervention (Internet-Based Interacting Together Everyday: Recovery After Childhood TBI [I-InTERACT]) and an abbreviated version (Express) in reducing executive dysfunction and internalizing problems among 113 young children ages 3-9 years following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Parents who participated in Express reported significantly lower levels of executive dysfunction than those in I-InTERACT and significantly lower levels of withdrawal than those in the active control group. Children with more problems pretreatment, families with lower education levels, and parents with more symptoms of depression benefited most.