Abstract for presentation at 6th World Congress on Brain Injury

Evaluation of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program for Managing Social Anxiety following Acquired Brain Injury

  • Ms Janet Hodgeson, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, United Kingdom
  • A/Prof Skye McDonald, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • A/Prof Robyn Tate, Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney University, Australia

    • Background: Despite the prevalence of poor social functioning after acquired brain injury (ABI), there are very few empirically validated studies examining the efficacy of treatments targeting commonly occurring causes of such dysfunction. Using a randomised controlled trial, this study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive behavioural intervention specifically designed for managing social anxiety following ABI.
    Method: Twelve brain-injured participants were screened, randomly allocated to either treatment group (TG) or a wait list group (WLG), and proceeded through to the final stages of therapy. The TG received 9 – 14 hourly, individual sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy.
    Results: Repeated measures analyses revealed significant improvements in general anxiety, depression and a transient mood measure, tension-anxiety, for the TG when compared to the WLG, at post-treatment. These treatment gains were maintained at one-month follow-up. Although in the predicted direction, post-intervention improvements in social anxiety and self-esteem for the TG, were not significant in comparison with the WLG.
    Conclusion: This study lends support to the small body of literature highlighting the potential of cognitive behavioural interventions for managing the psychological problems that serve as a barrier to rehabilitation following ABI especially in the social domain.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd