Shepherd Center - A Catastrophic Care Hospital

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, please contact the research coordinator listed for that particular clinical trial or complete the participation form to the right. The participation form will be forwarded to the program coordinator and you will be contacted by the appropriate person.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride and bromocriptine mesylate to improve attention in persons with TBI receiving acute rehabilitation (411)

Principal Investigators: Ronald Seel, PhD and Darryl Kaelin, MD

Study Description: This study funded through the Shepherd Center ARMED to Succeed program examines the efficacy of methyphenidate hydrochloride (brand name Ritalin) and bromocriptine mesylate (brand name Parlodel) compared to placebo in treating early attention impairments in patients with TBI. Primary outcome measures are the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS), Rehabilitation Intensity of Therapy Scale (RITS), and the FIM Cognitive Scale.

To participate you must:

• Be admitted to and estimated to remain in acute rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center for at least 13 days.
• Be 14 to 59 years old.
• Have moderate, severe or profound attention difficulties that require medication intervention.
• Not have a pre-injury diagnosis for Attention Deficit Disorder, Mental Retardation, thought disorder, delusional disorder, structural cardiac abnormalities, or previous history of chronic cognitive impairment.

Contact : Email Carlyn Kappy, RD, LD, or call 404-367-1375.

Biopsychosocial factors that predict TBI post-acute rehabilitation outcomes (433)

Prinicipal Investigators: Ronald Seel, PhD & Steve Macciocchi, PhD

Study Description: The purpose of this NIDRR field-initiated grant is to streamline and improve client and family assessment in order to maximize client post-acute rehabilitation discharge outcomes. Our primary goals are to develop models that better predict “at risk” clients with regard to: (a) physical and cognitive improvement, (b) independent living, and (c) community participation.

To participate you must:

• Have mild complicated, moderate or severe TBI who require comprehensive day or 3-service program
• Be aged 16+ years
• Consent within 1st week of day program or 3-service treatment
• Not be greater than 270 days post-injury

Contact: Email Rachel Emery, BA, or call 404-603-1494.

A Prospective Analysis of Therapeutic Treatments and Their Impact on Acute TBI Rehabilitation Outcomes (454)

Principal Investigators: John Corrigan, PhD, ABPP; Ron Seel, PhD

Study Description: This multi-center, 5-year, NIH funded “health outcomes” project will use Practice Based Evidence research methodology to identify specific components of rehabilitation treatments that improve acute rehabilitation outcomes. Participants will be 2000 patients receiving acute rehabilitation for TBI at one of ten participating centers. No experimental interventions are administered nor are research data collected directly from participating patients and family members. Consent allows us to send de-identified intervention and outcome data from the clinical record to a national registry.

To participate the patients must:

• Have a primary TBI diagnosis who are admitted to the pre-rehabilitation and education program (PREP) or the inpatient rehabilitation unit.
• Have a family member willing to sign consent on behalf of the patient for “health outcomes” research study at time of patient admission.

Contact: Email Sarah Heaner, MPH, or call 404-350-7583.

Individualized Planning for the First Year Following Acute Rehabilitation (459)

Principal Investigator: John Corrigan, PhD, ABPP & Ron Seel, PhD

Study Description: This multi-center, NIDDR TBI Collaborative grant funded study will identify and examine different patterns of recovery during the first year after traumatic brain injury. About 2000 persons with TBI and their significant caregivers from 10 centers throughout the U.S. and Canada will participate in this study. The overall goal of this study is to identify the service needs of clients with TBI and their primary caregivers and to identify post-discharge treatment and environmental factors that help people to recover better.

To participate you must:

• Have a primary TBI diagnosis and have been discharged from the pre-rehabilitation and education program (PREP) or the inpatient rehabilitation unit.
• Be willing to complete phone follow-up interviews at 3- and 6-months post-discharge, and 1-year post-injury.
• (Exclusion) Family member must have consented patient for “health outcomes” research study at time of patient admission to TBI inpatient rehabilitation.

Contact: Email Sarah Heaner, MPH, or call 404-350-7583.

Safety Risk After TBI (473E)

Principal Investigators: Ron Seel, PhD

Study Description: There are virtually no measures available to guide decisions about safety risk and supervision after a brain injury. Based on the feedback of TBI healthcare providers, TBI researchers, and caregivers of persons with TBI, we are addressing this gap in research and practice by creating a safety risk questionnaire that intends to improve how safety risk is assessed for persons with TBI. The questionnaire addresses common challenges encountered by persons with TBI after they return home and to the community. One month after completing the questionnaire, we will ask you to complete a brief follow-up survey about what safety situations the person with TBI has experienced. By completing the safety risk questionnaire and follow-up survey, caregivers and providers will help us identify the items that most accurately assess safety risk following TBI.

To participate you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a caregiver of a person with TBI with firsthand knowledge of the person’s safety
• The person with TBI is required to: 1) Have a TBI that resulted from a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, and 2) Be at least 16 years old
• You must be living with the person with TBI OR spending at least two hours with the person with TBI most days of the week

Caregivers will receive a gift card for completing the questionnaire and a gift card for completing the follow-up survey.

Contact: Email Kimether Barlow, MPH, or call 404-603-4269.