This episode is a conversation about neuropsychological interventions for adult patients with acquired brain injuries such as TBI, stroke, or hypoxia. We define and differentiate different terms for neuropsychological interventions, we list and describe specific cognitive interventions, we discuss the importance of emotional symptoms following brain injuries, and we explain characteristics of intervention effectiveness.
A pdf of the transcript for this episode is available here.
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About Dana
Dana is an Associate Professor, Clinical Neuropsychologist, and School Director of Graduate Research in the School of Psychology and Public Health, with active roles in research, teaching and clinical practice. She leads the eNACT (Neurorehabilitation And Clinical Translation) Research Group (www.latrobe.edu.au/enact), which focuses on innovative neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques to improve the lives of brain injury survivors, and enhancing clinical implementation of and clinician competence in these evidence-based interventions. She was awarded La Trobe’s Research Engagement and Impact Award in 2020. Dana’s focus on training top scientist-practitioners as a key element to clinical translation has been recognised with the 2021 AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2018 Australian Psychological Society Early Career Teaching Award, the 2017 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the 2017 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Innovation in Teaching), and the 2016 Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI) Clinical Innovation Award. Dana is currently President-Elect of ASSBI. She is an Editorial Board member for the journal Brain Impairment. She is co-Chair of the Neuropsychological Intervention Special Interest Group of the International Neuropsychological Society.
Resources
Manuals
Making the Most of Your Memory manual
Short courses
Adapting Psychological Therapies for People with Cognitive Impairment
Intervention competencies
Group facilitation competency checklist – can be downloaded from supplemental material
Methods for training in CBT-ABI
Implementing memory skills groups into clinical practice
Other
Join the new Neuropsychological Intervention INS Special Interest Group
References
Evans, F. A., Wong, D., & Stolwyk, R. J. (2020). Retrieval practice enhances memory for names in survivors of stroke. Neuropsychology, 34(8), 874-880.
Lawson, D. W., Stolwyk, R. J., Ponsford, J. L., McKenzie, D. P., Downing, M. G., & Wong, D. (2020). Telehealth delivery of memory rehabilitation following stroke. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 26(1), 58-71.
Loetscher, T., Potter, K. J., Wong, D., & das Nair, R. (2019). Cognitive rehabilitation for attention deficits following stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11).
Ponsford, J., Lee, N. K., Wong, D., McKay, A., Haines, K., Alway, Y., … & O’Donnell, M. L. (2016). Efficacy of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression symptoms following traumatic brain injury. Psychological Medicine, 46(5), 1079-1090.
Rogers, J. M., Foord, R., Stolwyk, R. J., Wong, D., & Wilson, P. H. (2018). General and domain-specific effectiveness of cognitive remediation after stroke: systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review, 28(3), 285-309.
Sathananthan, N., Dimech-Betancourt, B., Morris, E., Vicendese, D., Knox, L., Gillanders, D., … & Wong, D. (2021). A single-case experimental evaluation of a new group-based intervention to enhance adjustment to life with acquired brain injury: VaLiANT (valued living after neurological trauma). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 1-33.
Withiel, T. D., Wong, D., Ponsford, J. L., Cadilhac, D. A., New, P., Mihaljcic, T., & Stolwyk, R. J. (2019). Comparing memory group training and computerized cognitive training for improving memory function following stroke: A phase II randomized controlled trial. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(5), 343-351.
Wong, D., Grace, N., Baker, K., & McMahon, G. (2019). Measuring clinical competencies in facilitating group-based rehabilitation interventions: Development of a new competency checklist. Clinical Rehabilitation, 33(6), 1079-1087.
Wong, D., Kempnich, C., Bradshaw, J., Grayson, S., Lillywhite, L., O’Shea, M., … & Cadilhac, D. A. (2021). Real world implementation of a group-based memory rehabilitation program into stroke services: A knowledge translation evaluation. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 28(6), 410-421.
Wong, D., McKay, A., Kazantzis, N., & Ponsford, J. (2020). Clinical Translation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety and Depression: Adapted for Brain Injury (CBT-ABI): How Do We Train Competent Clinicians?. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 13(4), 379-395.
Wong, D., McKay, A., & Stolwyk, R. (2014). Delivery of psychological interventions by clinical neuropsychologists: Current practice in Australia and implications for training. Australian Psychologist, 49(4), 209-222.
Ymer, L., McKay, A., Wong, D., Frencham, K., Grima, N., Tran, J., … & Ponsford, J. (2021). Cognitive behavioural therapy versus health education for sleep disturbance and fatigue after acquired brain injury: A pilot randomised trial. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 64(5), 101560.
Zelencich, L. M., Wong, D., Kazantzis, N., McKenzie, D. P., Downing, M., & Ponsford, J. L. (2020). Predictors of anxiety and depression symptom improvement in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury: Pre/post-Injury and therapy process factors. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 26(1), 97-107.
Great podcast! I have a question about the ethical implications of assessment and intervention. I work in a rural area and one of the four psychologists who provide neuropsychological assessment following ABI. I often spend the bulk of feedback sessions providing psychoeducation and compensatory strategies specific to the individual and their environment. I have thought many times of the need for a group focusing on memory intervention. Does a multiple relationship then occur if I am the psychologist assessing and providing intervention. Any thoughts on this?
Hi Sara. I’m glad you enjoyed the podcast. Thanks for your question. I don’t believe there are any ethical issues with providing both assessment and intervention for the same person. This is common practice for other medical and allied health professionals. I would see assessment and intervention as part of a holistic service that is meeting the needs of your clients. The only potential issue i could see is over-servicing, however that is a risk even when assessment and intervention are done separately. In fact, it saves time and costs for the client if you do both, as another practitioner would still need to spend time conducting a clinical interview and establishing a therapeutic relationship. I hope that helps! Dana