Telephone Problem Solving for Service Members with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized, Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Military Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is prevalent in service members post-deployment.
• Effective treatments for mTBI consequences remain under-researched.
• Service members face psychological and physical challenges after combat-related mTBI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of telephone-delivered problem-solving treatment (PST) for mTBI.
• To assess PST's impact on psychological and physical symptoms in active duty service members.
• To compare PST with an education-only (EO) intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 356 service members with confirmed mTBI.
• Intervention groups received either PST (up to 12 calls) or EO (educational brochures).
• Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6 and 12 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The PST group showed significant short-term improvement in psychological distress (BSI-18) at 6 months.
• No significant differences were found in primary endpoints (BSI-18, RPQ) at 12 months.
• Secondary endpoints, including sleep, depression, PTSD, and physical functioning, improved short-term in the PST group.

Conclusions:

• Telephone-delivered PST is well-accepted by service members post-mTBI.
• PST shows promise as an adjunct treatment for reducing psychological distress after combat-related mTBI.
• Further research is needed to determine methods for sustaining PST's therapeutic effects.