Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Cognitive Treatment in Blast Traumatic Brain Injury

Status:	Completed
Conditions:	Cognitive Studies, Hospital, Neurology
Therapuetic Areas:	Neurology, Psychiatry / Psychology, Other
Healthy:	No
Age Range:	21 - 50
Updated:	10/20/2018
Start Date:	May 2012
End Date:	November 18, 2017

Combining Cognitive Treatment With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Blast TBI

This study investigates the efficacy of a novel neurorehabilitation program combining
noninvasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS) and cognitive
therapy, on cognitive function and quality of life in individuals with blast-induced
traumatic brain injury (bTBI).

The most common blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI)-associated problems are cognitive
deficits, such as executive functioning and memory. This study evaluates a combined
rehabilitation program: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive therapy for
treatment of patients with bTBI. TMS is a noninvasive way of stimulating the brain, which is
not painful and does not involve any needles or any form of surgery. It acts by delivering a
magnetic stimulation to a particular brain region. Half of the study participants will
receive cognitive intervention with active TMS, and a control group will receive cognitive
intervention with sham TMS. This study takes place in Boston, Massachusetts: at the VA Boston
Healthcare System and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Inclusion Criteria:

- OEF/OIF active-duty personnel or veterans exposed to blast

- Meets criteria for mild TBI

- LOC of 30 min or less

- Age: 21-50

- Primary language is English

Exclusion Criteria:

- Evidence of penetrating head injury

- History of previous neurological diagnosis

- History of previous psychotic disorder prior to the blast exposure

- Hearing or vision impairment

We found this trial at

sites

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

330 Brookline Ave
Boston, Massachusetts 02215

617-667-7000