Difficulties in understanding and managing emotions may hinder recovery, rehabilitation, and participation in everyday life after acquired brain injury (ABI). Yet interventions targeting emotional adjustment after ABI remain limited.
The aim of the study is to investigate whether emotion-focused group therapy, based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), can support recovery after ABI. The intervention helps participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs related to their illness and changed life circumstances. Effects on emotional functioning, quality of life, activity, and participation will be assessed over time, alongside interviews exploring participants' experiences.
Person of working age, primarily 18-65 years.
Acquired brain injury.
At least three months since the time of injury.
Signs of significant psychological distress, such as mental health difficulties, vulnerability to mental health problems, or dysfunctional coping.
Current severe mental illness (e.g., psychosis or severe personality disorder).
Active substance use disorder.
Severe cognitive impairment that precludes participation in group-based talk therapy.
Other medical conditions that, based on clinical assessment, may make participation inappropriate.
Parallel
TAU + Group Therapy (EAET)
BehavioralBehavioral: Treatment as usual • Individually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support. Behavioral: Group-based Emotional and Expression Therapy (EAET) • 10-session manualized group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) designed to help participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs. Weekly group sessions are complemented by structured homework assignments. A follow-up session is provided three months after completion of the intervention. The intervention is delivered by a clinical psychologist.
Treatment as Usual (TAU)
BehavioralIndividually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support.
Brief Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS)
Evalutates three core components of emotion regulation: "Identifying emotions"; "Processing emotions", "Expressing emotions".
Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI)
QOLIBRI consists of 37 items in six scales. Health-related quality of life is assessed in the areas of "Cognition," "Self," "Daily Life and Autonomy," and "Social Relationships," and feeling bothered by "Emotions," and "Physical Problems."
Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS)
Six item scale that ask about health related quality of life in six dimensions: "Physical condition, "Cognition", "Emotions", "Ability to carry out daily activities", "Personal and social life" and "Current situation and future prospects"
Short Form 36 (SF-36)
The SF-36 measures eight scales: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH).
Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ)
Score of 0-64, with a higher score indicates worse symptoms.
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Uppsala University
Lead sponsor
Region Uppsala Public Health and Care
Collaborator
