OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a replicable group treatment program for improving social competence after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing two methods of conducting a social competency skills program, an interactive group format versus a classroom lecture. SETTING: Community and Veteran rehabilitation centers. PARTICIPANTS: 179 civilian, military, and veteran adults with TBI and social competence difficulties, at least 6 months post-injury. EXPERIMENTAL INTERVENTION: Thirteen weekly group interactive sessions (1.5 hours) with structured and facilitated group interactions to improve social competence. ALTERNATIVE (CONTROL) INTERVENTION: Thirteen traditional classroom sessions using the same curriculum with brief supplemental individual sessions but without structured group interaction. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Profile of Pragmatic Impairment in Communication (PPIC), an objective behavioral rating of social communication impairments following TBI. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: LaTrobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - (PCL-C), Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), Scale of Perceived Social Self Efficacy (PSSE).
RESULTS: Social competence goals (GAS) were achieved and maintained for most participants regardless of treatment method. Significant improvements in the primary outcome (PPIC) and two of the secondary outcomes (LCQ and BSI) were seen immediately post-treatment and at 3 months post-treatment in the AT arm only, however these improvements were not significantly different between the GIST and AT arms. Similar trends were observed for PSSE and PCL-C.
CONCLUSIONS: Social competence skills improved for persons with TBI in both treatment conditions. The group interactive format was not found to be a superior method of treatment delivery in this study.