Shepherd Center - A Catastrophic Care Hospital

Here is a list of current studies/initiatives that Shepherd Center is participating in to help increase our understanding of Acquired Brain Injuries. These studies are not recruiting volunteers at the present time.

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.

Contact: Email Nicole Thompson, MPH, or call 404-603-4269.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Contact: Nicole Thompson, MPH, 404-603-4269.

The impact of cognitive impairment on outcomes following SCI (288)

Prinicipal Investigators: Stephen Macciocchi, PhD & Ron Seel, PhD

Study Description: The purpose of this NIDDR funded field-initiated grant is to determine whether past problems in learning and remembering or having a traumatic brain injury, affect the ability for individuals with SCI to benefit from rehabilitation programs. The goal of the research is to determine if special programs are needed to fit the needs of persons who have problems learning during rehabilitation.

Contact: Ronald Seel, PhD, 404-387-5625.

Assessment scales for disorders of consciousness (DOC): Evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and research

Prinicipal Investigator: Ronald Seel, PhD

Study Description: This study conducted by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine DOC Task Force is a structured, evidence-based review of the literature to evaluate the reliability, validity, and generalizability of measurement instruments for DOC. Goals of the evidence based review are to: 1) assess the extent that measurement scales adequately describe the characteristics and features of different levels of disorders of consciousness, 2) assess the reliability of measurement scale ratings, and 3) assess the validity of measurement scales with regard to diagnosis and prognosis.

Contact: Ronald Seel, PhD, 404-387-5625.

Evaluation of a pre-rehabilitation and education program for persons with disorders of consciousness and their families

Principal Investigators: Jennifer Douglas, CCC-SLP, Ronald Seel, PhD

Study Description: Disorders of Consciousness (DOC) treatment programs are a highly understudied area. The primary objectives of this retrospective health outcome study are to: 1) Describe patients admitted to the DOC program including demographics, injury severity, and co-morbidities; 2) describe the Shepherd Center Pre-Rehabilitation Education Program (PREP), including interdisciplinary team and typical interventions; 3) examine medication practices and impact on outcomes, and 4) describe PREP program outcomes including family satisfaction.

Contact: Sarah Heaner, MPH, 404-350-7583.

A retrospective analysis of the timing and dosage of pharmaceutical interventions on acute rehabilitation outcomes (355)

Prinicipal Investigator: Ronald Seel, PhD, Darryl Kaelin MD

Study Description: There is little empirical evidence for the efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions in the treatment of neuropsychiatric issues after TBI. This retrospective study will use a Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI) research design to examine specific medication classes and the extent that each contributes to TBI recovery.

Contact: Ronald Seel, PhD, 404-387-5625.

Development of a traumatic brain injury acute rehabilitation medical severity model

Prinicpal Investigator: Ronald Seel, PhD, Darryl Kaelin MD

Study Description: The primary goal of this retrospective study is to evaluate medical variables that are routinely collected at acute rehabilitation admission and examine their predictive utility on FIM Motor and Cognitive Scores at acute rehabilitation discharge.

Contact: Ronald Seel, PhD, 404-387-5625.