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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Effects of Web-Based Parent Training on Caregiver Functioning Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A
Stacey P Raj1, Emily L Shultz, Huaiyu Zang
1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Drs Raj, Zhang, and Wade, Ms Shultz, and Mr Zang); Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio (Dr Raj); University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (Ms Shultz, Mr Zang, and Dr Wade); Children's Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora (Dr Kirkwood); Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (Drs Taylor and Stancin); Biobehavioral Health Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (Dr Taylor); and MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio (Dr Stancin); and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Dr Yeates).
Insights
The I-InTERACT web-based intervention effectively reduced depression in caregivers of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it did not significantly improve other psychological outcomes, suggesting potential need for treatment modifications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) significantly impacts caregivers' mental health.
- Web-based interventions offer accessible support for caregivers of children with TBI.
- Existing interventions require evaluation for their effectiveness in improving caregiver well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a web-based parenting intervention (I-InTERACT) and its abbreviated version (Express) on caregiver depression, psychological distress, parenting stress, and efficacy.
- To determine if these interventions offer benefits following pediatric TBI.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 148 caregivers of 113 children (aged 3-9 years) with moderate to severe TBI.
- Participants were assigned to I-InTERACT, Express, or an active control group.
- Caregiver outcomes were measured at baseline and 6 months post-intervention using standardized scales.
Main Results:
- The I-InTERACT intervention demonstrated a significant reduction in caregiver depression (CES-D scores) compared to the active control group.
- No significant main effects were found for the interventions on overall caregiver distress (GSI), parenting stress (PSI), or parenting efficacy (CSES).
- Caregivers with higher baseline depression showed greater improvements in depression scores with I-InTERACT.
Conclusions:
- The I-InTERACT intervention shows promise in reducing depression among caregivers of children with TBI.
- Further modifications to the intervention may be needed to effectively address parenting stress and enhance caregiver self-efficacy.
- Web-based interventions can be a valuable tool, but tailoring content is crucial for comprehensive caregiver support.
Objective:
To examine 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 following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Setting:
Four children's hospitals and 1 general hospital in the United States.
Participants:
148 caregivers of 113 children aged 3 to 9 years with a moderate to severe TBI.
Design:
Multicenter randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to I-InTERACT, Express, or an active control condition. Caregiver data were collected at baseline and postintervention (6 months later).
Intervention:
I-InTERACT (10-14 sessions) and Express (7 sessions) combine live coaching of parenting skills and positive parenting strategies.
Main Measures:
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (GSI), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES).
Results:
Analyses revealed no main effects of treatment on caregiver distress (GSI), parenting stress (PSI), or parenting efficacy (CSES). However, analyses examining baseline severity as a moderator found that caregivers with elevated levels of depression in I-InTERACT experienced significantly greater reductions in CES-D scores compared with caregivers in the active control condition.
Conclusions:
I-InTERACT reduced caregiver depression but no other facets of caregiver psychological functioning. Modifications to the treatment content may be necessary to reduce parenting stress and improve caregiver efficacy.
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