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Blood biomarkers are an emerging diagnostic and prognostic tool that reflect a range of neuropathological processes following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their effectiveness in identifying long-term neuropathological processes after TBI is unclear. Studying biomarkers in the chronic phase is vital because elevated levels in TBI might result from distinct neuropathological mechanisms during acute and chronic phases. Here, we examine plasma biomarkers in the chronic period following TBI and their association with amyloid and tau PET, white matter microarchitecture, brain age and cognition. We recruited participants ≥40 years of age who had suffered a single moderate-severe TBI ≥10 years previously between January 2018 and March 2021. We measured plasma biomarkers using single molecule array technology [ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), neurofilament light (NfL), tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and phosphorylated tau (P-tau181)]; PET tracers to measure amyloid-β (18F-NAV4694) and tau neurofibrillary tangles (18F-MK6240); MRI to assess white matter microstructure and brain age; and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test to measure verbal-episodic memory. A total of 90 post-TBI participants (73% male; mean = 58.2 years) were recruited on average 22 years (range = 10-33 years) post-injury, and 32 non-TBI control participants (66% male; mean = 57.9 years) were recruited. Plasma UCH-L1 levels were 67% higher {exp(b) = 1.67, P = 0.018, adjusted P = 0.044, 95% confidence interval (CI) [10% to 155%], area under the curve = 0.616} and P-tau181 were 27% higher {exp(b) = 1.24, P = 0.011, adjusted P = 0.044, 95% CI [5% to 46%], area under the curve = 0.632} in TBI participants compared with controls. Amyloid and tau PET were not elevated in TBI participants. Higher concentrations of plasma P-tau181, UCH-L1, GFAP and NfL were significantly associated with worse white matter microstructure but not brain age in TBI participants. For TBI participants, poorer verbal-episodic memory was associated with higher concentration of P-tau181 {short delay: b = -2.17, SE = 1.06, P = 0.043, 95% CI [-4.28, -0.07]; long delay: bP-tau = -2.56, SE = 1.08, P = 0.020, 95% CI [-4.71, -0.41]}, tau {immediate memory: bTau = -6.22, SE = 2.47, P = 0.014, 95% CI [-11.14, -1.30]} and UCH-L1 {immediate memory: bUCH-L1 = -2.14, SE = 1.07, P = 0.048, 95% CI [-4.26, -0.01]}, but was not associated with functional outcome. Elevated plasma markers related to neuronal damage and accumulation of phosphorylated tau suggest the presence of ongoing neuropathology in the chronic phase following a single moderate-severe TBI. Plasma biomarkers were associated with measures of microstructural brain disruption on MRI and disordered cognition, further highlighting their utility as potential objective tools to monitor evolving neuropathology post-TBI., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.)

Background Little is known about health literacy in traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors. The aims of this study were to compare health literacy in individuals with TBI with that of a control group; to examine the association between health literacy in individuals with TBI and demographic, injury, and cognitive factors; and compare the relationship between health literacy and physical and mental health outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional observational study design was used. Adults (≥18years) were recruited from an outpatient research centre in Victoria, Australia. There were 209 participants with a complicated mild to severe TBI at least 1year previously (up to 30years 6months) and 206 control participants. Results Individuals with TBI did not have poorer health literacy than controls (IRR=1.31, P =0.102, CI95% [0.947, 1.812]). Further analysis could not be completed due to the highly skewed Health Literacy Assessment Using Talking Touchscreen Technology - Short Form (Health LiTT-SF) data. Conclusion Health literacy performance in individuals with TBI was not significantly different to controls. Premorbid education may provide a critical cognitive reserve upon which TBI survivors can draw to aid their health literacy. These findings are specific to the Health LiTT-SF measure only and require replication using more comprehensive health literacy measures in culturally diverse samples.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04798859.

Objective: Given the high variability in traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes and relative lack of examination of the influence of noninjury factors on outcome, this study aimed to examine factors associated with functional outcome at 1 and 2 years after moderate to severe TBI, including both preinjury and injury-related factors., Design: Observational cohort study., Setting: Inpatient hospital recruitment with outpatient follow-up at 1 and 2 years post injury., Participants: Individuals with moderate to severe TBI were recruited prospectively into a Longitudinal Head Injury Outcome Study. Of the eligible 3253 individuals who were eligible, 1899 participants consented to the study (N=1899)., Main Outcome Measure: Functional outcome was measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E)., Results: 1476 participants (73.6% males) and 1365 participants (73% males) completed the GOS-E at 1 and 2 years post injury. They had a mean age at injury of 40 years and mean duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) of 26 days. Good recovery, representing return to previous activities on the GOS-E (score 7-8), was present in 31% of participants at 1 year post injury and 33.5% at 2 years post injury. When predictor variables were entered into regression together, good outcome was significantly associated with not being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and not having preinjury mental health or alcohol treatment, shorter PTA duration, and absence of limb injuries at both 1 and 2 years; higher education was also a significant predictor at 1 year post injury., Conclusions: Alongside consideration of injury severity, understanding and addressing preinjury factors is important to maximize outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Changes in sexual functioning and wellbeing after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common but remain poorly addressed. Little is known about the lived experiences and perspectives of individuals with TBI. Through semi-structured interviews with individuals with TBI ( n  = 20), this qualitative study explored their experiences with post-TBI sexuality, along with their needs and preferences for receiving sexuality support and service delivery. Three broad themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts. First, individuals differed significantly at the start of their journeys in personal attributes, TBI-associated impacts, and comfort levels in discussing sexuality. Second, journeys, feelings, and perspectives diverged based on the nature of post-TBI sexuality. Third, whilst responses to changes and preferences for support varied widely, individuals felt that clinicians were well-placed to help them navigate this area of their lives. The impacts felt by individuals with TBI, and the infrequency of clinical discussions highlight the need for clinician education and clinically validated assessment and treatment tools to improve how post-TBI sexuality is addressed and managed.

Objective: Memory dysfunction is a persistent cognitive symptom following traumatic brain injury (TBI), negatively impacting capacity for independent living and productivity. Traditional scoring of neuropsychological memory tests does not allow for differentiation of specific impairments of encoding, consolidation and/or retrieval, or the potential impact of strategy deficits. Method: The current study examined performance of 142 moderate-to-severe TBI participants and 68 demographically matched healthy controls on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) using Item Specific Data Analysis (ISDA) and strategy use analyses. Results: Results revealed significantly greater impairments in encoding, consolidation, and retrieval in TBI participants, compared to controls. Encoding deficits significantly explained the most variance in the long-delayed recall of TBI participants, followed by consolidation, and then retrieval. Participants with TBI showed a reduced ability to spontaneously apply strategies during learning, evident in decreased subjective clusters and increased word omissions, compared to controls. No difference was found between groups in passive learning strategy application, shown through serial clustering. Spontaneous strategy measures both uniquely accounted for variance in the encoding ability of TBI participants. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential value in using ISDA and strategy use measures to assess RAVLT results to better characterize individual memory profiles and inform rehabilitative interventions.

The aim of the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) is to design a data dictionary to inform data collection and facilitate prediction of outcomes for moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) across Australia. The process has engaged diverse stakeholders across six areas: social, health, clinical, biological, acute interventions, and long-term outcomes. Here, we report the results of the clinical review. Standardized searches were implemented across databases to April 2022. English-language reports of studies evaluating an association between a clinical factor and any clinical outcome in at least 100 patients with moderate-severe TBI were included. Abstracts, and full-text records, were independently screened by at least two reviewers in Covidence. The findings were assessed through a consensus process to determine inclusion in the AUS-TBI data resource. The searches retrieved 22,441 records, of which 1137 were screened at full text and 313 papers were included. The clinical outcomes identified were predominantly measures of survival and disability. The clinical predictors most frequently associated with these outcomes were the Glasgow Coma Scale, pupil reactivity, and blood pressure measures. Following discussion with an expert consensus group, 15 were recommended for inclusion in the data dictionary. This review identified numerous studies evaluating associations between clinical factors and outcomes in patients with moderate-severe TBI. A small number of factors were reported consistently, however, how and when these factors were assessed varied. The findings of this review and the subsequent consensus process have informed the development of an evidence-informed data dictionary for moderate-severe TBI in Australia., (© Ancelin McKimmie et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Importance: Sport-related concussion (SRC), a form of mild traumatic brain injury, is a prevalent occurrence in collision sports. There are no well-established approaches for tracking neurobiologic recovery after SRC., Objective: To examine the levels of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light (NfL) in Australian football athletes who experience SRC., Design, Setting, and Participants: A cohort study recruiting from April 10, 2021, to September 17, 2022, was conducted through the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Melbourne, Australia. Participants included adult Australian football players with or without SRC. Data analysis was performed from May 26, 2023, to March 27, 2024., Exposure: Sport-related concussion, defined as at least 1 observable sign and/or 2 or more symptoms., Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were serum GFAP and NfL levels at 24 hours, and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes were symptoms, cognitive performance, and return to training times., Results: Eighty-one individuals with SRC (median age, 22.8 [IQR, 21.3-26.0] years; 89% male) and 56 control individuals (median age, 24.6 [IQR, 22.4-27.3] years; 96% male) completed a total of 945 of 1057 eligible testing sessions. Compared with control participants, those with SRC exhibited higher GFAP levels at 24 hours (mean difference [MD] in natural log, pg/mL, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.50-0.82]) and 4 weeks (MD, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.02-0.32]), and NfL from 1 to 12 weeks (1-week MD, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.12-0.51]; 2-week MD, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.19-0.58]; 4-week MD, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.12-0.51]; 6-week MD, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.07-0.47]; 8-week MD, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.15-0.56]; and 12-week MD, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.04-0.46]). Growth mixture modeling identified 2 GFAP subgroups: extreme prolonged (16%) and moderate transient (84%). For NfL, 3 subgroups were identified: extreme prolonged (7%), moderate prolonged (15%), and minimal or no change (78%). Individuals with SRC who reported loss of consciousness (LOC) (33% of SRC cases) had higher GFAP at 24 hours (MD, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.77-1.24]), 1 week (MD, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.06-0.49]), 2 weeks (MD, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.004-0.42]) and 4 weeks (MD, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.13-0.55]), and higher NfL from 1 week to 12 weeks (1-week MD, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.42-1.03]; 2-week MD, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.61-1.21]; 4-week MD, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.59-1.20]; 6-week MD, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.50-1.13]; 8-week MD, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.42-1.04]; and 12-week MD, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.22-0.85]) compared with SRC participants without LOC. Return to training times were longer in the GFAP extreme compared with moderate subgroup (incident rate ratio [IRR], 1.99 [95% CI, 1.69-2.34]; NfL extreme (IRR, 3.24 [95% CI, 2.63-3.97]) and moderate (IRR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.18-1.72]) subgroups compared with the minimal subgroup, and for individuals with LOC compared with those without LOC (IRR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.41-1.93])., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, a subset of SRC cases, particularly those with LOC, showed heightened and prolonged increases in GFAP and NfL levels, that persisted for at least 4 weeks. These findings suggest that serial biomarker measurement could identify such cases, guiding return to play decisions based on neurobiologic recovery. While further investigation is warranted, the association between prolonged biomarker elevations and LOC may support the use of more conservative return to play timelines for athletes with this clinical feature.

Background: Age is associated with outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there are mixed findings across outcome domains and most studies lack controls., Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the association between age group (15-24 years, 25-34 years, 35-44 years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years, and 65 years or more) and outcomes 2 years after TBI in independence in daily activities, driving, public transportation use, employment, leisure activities, social integration, relationships and emotional functioning, relative to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that older individuals with TBI would have significantly poorer outcomes than controls in all domains except anxiety and depression, for which it was expected they would show better outcomes. Global functional outcome (measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended) was also examined, and we hypothesized that older adults would have poorer outcomes than younger adults., Methods: Participants were 1897 individuals with TBI (mean, SD age 36.7, 17.7 years) who completed measures 2 years post-injury and 110 healthy controls (age 38.3, 17.5 years)., Results: Compared to controls, individuals with TBI were less independent in most activities of daily living, participated less in leisure activities and employment, and were more socially isolated, anxious and depressed (p < 0.001). Those who were older in age were disproportionately less likely to be independent in light domestic activities, shopping and driving; and participated less in occupational activities relative to controls. Functional outcome was significantly higher in the youngest age group than in all older age groups (p < 0.001), but the younger groups were more likely to report being socially isolated (p < 0.001), depressed (p = 0.005) and anxious (p = 0.02), and less likely to be married or in a relationship (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: A greater focus is needed on addressing psychosocial issues in younger individuals with TBI, whereas those who are older may require more intensive therapy to maximise independence in activities of daily living and return to employment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Although sexuality has been shown to be negatively impacted in up to half of individuals who sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI), few studies have sought to evaluate the efficacy of targeted interventions. Gaining insight into the participant experience of undergoing treatment for post-TBI sexuality changes is a crucial aspect of intervention evaluation. This study aimed to investigate participants with TBI experience of undergoing eight sessions of a novel CBT intervention designed to help both couples and singles improve sexual wellbeing after TBI. Eight participants (50% male) with moderate-severe TBI, and a mean age of 46.38-years (SD = 13.54), completed a qualitative interview. A six-phase reflexive thematic analysis approach was used. Despite variability in participant characteristics, the findings suggested that participants with TBI experience reflected that of a positive treatment journey characterized by high levels of enjoyment and satisfaction. Key themes identified included contextual factors that preceded treatment, factors that facilitated treatment engagement, outcomes derived from the treatment experience, and feedback provided on reflection. The results not only provide an enriched understanding of the client experience of the intervention but provide corroborating preliminary evidence of efficacy for this novel CBT intervention in addressing complex and persistent sexuality problems after TBI.

The first aim of the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) encompasses development of a set of measures that comprehensively predict outcomes for people with moderate-severe TBI across Australia. This process engaged diverse stakeholders and information sources across six areas: social, health, and clinical factors; biological markers; treatments; and longer-term outcomes. Here, we report the systematic review of pre-existing health conditions as predictors of outcome for people with moderate-severe TBI. Standardized searches were implemented across databases until March 31, 2022. English-language reports of studies evaluating association between pre-existing health conditions and clinical outcome in at least 10 patients with moderate-severe TBI were included. A predefined algorithm was used to assign a judgement of predictive value to each observed association. The list of identified pre-existing health conditions was then discussed with key stakeholders during a consensus meeting to determine the feasibility of incorporating them into standard care. The searches retrieved 22,217 records, of which 47 articles were included. The process led to identification of 88 unique health predictors (homologized to 21 predictor categories) of 55 outcomes (homologized to 19 outcome categories). Only pre-existing health conditions with high and moderate predictive values were discussed during the consensus meeting. Following the consensus meeting, 5 out of 11 were included (migraine, mental health conditions, ≥4 pre-existing health conditions, osteoporosis, and body mass index [BMI]) as common data elements in the AUS-TBI data dictionary. Upon further discussion, 3 additional pre-existing health conditions were included. These are pre-existing heart disease, frailty score, and previous incidence of TBI.

The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) aims to develop a health informatics approach to collect data predictive of outcomes for persons with moderate-severe TBI across Australia. Central to this approach is a data dictionary; however, no systematic reviews of methods to define and develop data dictionaries exist to-date. This rapid systematic review aimed to identify and characterize methods for designing data dictionaries to collect outcomes or variables in persons with neurological conditions. Database searches were conducted from inception through October 2021. Records were screened in two stages against set criteria to identify methods to define data dictionaries for neurological conditions (International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision: 08, 22, and 23). Standardized data were extracted. Processes were checked at each stage by independent review of a random 25% of records. Consensus was reached through discussion where necessary. Thirty-nine initiatives were identified across 29 neurological conditions. No single established or recommended method for defining a data dictionary was identified. Nine initiatives conducted systematic reviews to collate information before implementing a consensus process. Thirty-seven initiatives consulted with end-users. Methods of consultation were "roundtable" discussion ( n  = 30); with facilitation ( n  = 16); that was iterative ( n  = 27); and frequently conducted in-person ( n  = 27). Researcher stakeholders were involved in all initiatives and clinicians in 25. Importantly, only six initiatives involved persons with lived experience of TBI and four involved carers. Methods for defining data dictionaries were variable and reporting is sparse. Our findings are instructive for AUS-TBI and can be used to further development of methods for defining data dictionaries., Competing Interests: M.K.B. has received personal fees for travel or consulting from Chiropractor's Association of Australia, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Life Ready Health Group, and Active Linc Pty Ltd. M.K.B. has received research funding from the Australian NHMRC, MRFF and RTP schemes, UNSW, and NeuRA. D.J.C. occasionally consults for Pressura Neuro, all funds to Monash University. M.F. is the CEO of the charitable organization Connectivity–Traumatic Brain Injury Australia., (© Matthew K. Bagg et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) aims to select a set of measures to comprehensively predict and assess outcomes following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) across Australia. The aim of this article was to report on the implementation and findings of an evidence-based consensus approach to develop AUS-TBI recommendations for outcome measures following adult and pediatric moderate-to-severe TBI. Following consultation with a panel of expert clinicians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and a Living Experience group, and preliminary literature searches with a broader focus, a decision was made to focus on measures of mortality, everyday functional outcomes, and quality of life. Standardized searches of bibliographic databases were conducted through March 2022. Characteristics of 75 outcome measures were extracted from 1485 primary studies. Consensus meetings among the AUS-TBI Steering Committee, an expert panel of clinicians and researchers and a group of individuals with lived experience of TBI resulted in the production of a final list of 11 core outcome measures: the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E); Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) (adult); mortality; EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ5D); Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI); Return to Work /Study (adult and pediatric); Functional Independence Measure for Children (WEEFIM); Glasgow Outcome Scale Modified for Children (GOS-E PEDS); Paediatric Quality of Life Scale (PEDS-QL); and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (pediatric). These 11 outcome measures will be included as common data elements in the AUS-TBI data dictionary. Review Registration PROSPERO (CRD42022290954)., Competing Interests: D.J.C. occasionally consults to Pressure P/L, with all funds being given to Monash University. M.F. is the CEO of the charitable organization Connectivity - Traumatic Brain Injury Australia. The other authors have nothing to disclose., (© Jennie L. Ponsford et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) is developing a data resource to enable improved outcome prediction for people with moderate-severe TBI (msTBI) across Australia. Fundamental to this resource is the collaboratively designed data dictionary. This systematic review and consultation aimed to identify acute interventions with potential to modify clinical outcomes for people after msTBI, for inclusion in a data dictionary. Standardized searches were implemented across bibliographic databases from inception through April 2022. English-language reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating any association between any acute intervention and clinical outcome in at least 100 patients with msTBI, were included. A predefined algorithm was used to assign a value to each observed association. Consultation with AUS-TBI clinicians and researchers formed the consensus process for interventions to be included in a single data dictionary. Searches retrieved 14,455 records, of which 124 full-length RCTs were screened, with 35 studies included. These studies evaluated 26 unique acute interventions across 21 unique clinical outcomes. Only 4 interventions were considered to have medium modifying value for any outcome from the review, with an additional 8 interventions agreed upon through the consensus process. The interventions with medium value were tranexamic acid and phenytoin, which had a positive effect on an outcome; and decompressive craniectomy surgery and hypothermia, which negatively affected outcomes. From the systematic review and consensus process, 12 interventions were identified as potential modifiers to be included in the AUS-TBI national data resource.

In this series of eight articles, the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) consortium describes the Australian approach used to select the common data elements collected acutely that have been shown to predict outcome following moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) across the lifespan. This article presents the unified single data dictionary, together with additional measures chosen to facilitate comparative effectiveness research and data linkage. Consultations with the AUS-TBI Lived Experience Expert Group provided insights on the merits and considerations regarding data elements for some of the study areas, as well as more general principles to guide the collection of data and the selection of meaningful measures. These are presented as a series of guiding principles and themes. The AUS-TBI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group identified a number of key points and considerations for the project approach specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including key issues of data sovereignty and community involvement. These are outlined in the form of principles to guide selection of appropriate methodologies, data management, and governance. Implementation of the AUS-TBI approach aims to maximize ongoing data collection and linkage, to facilitate personalization of care and improved outcomes for people who experience moderate-severe TBI.

The objective of the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury (AUS-TBI) Initiative is to develop a data dictionary to inform data collection and facilitate prediction of outcomes of people who experience moderate-severe TBI in Australia. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of the association between demographic, injury event, and social characteristics with outcomes, in people with moderate-severe TBI, to identify potentially predictive indicators. Standardized searches were implemented across bibliographic databases to March 31, 2022. English-language reports, excluding case series, which evaluated the association between demographic, injury event, and social characteristics, and any clinical outcome in at least 10 patients with moderate-severe TBI were included. Abstracts and full text records were independently screened by at least two reviewers in Covidence. A pre-defined algorithm was used to assign a judgement of predictive value to each observed association. The review findings were discussed with an expert panel to determine the feasibility of incorporation of routine measurement into standard care. The search strategy retrieved 16,685 records; 867 full-length records were screened, and 111 studies included. Twenty-two predictors of 32 different outcomes were identified; 7 were classified as high-level (age, sex, ethnicity, employment, insurance, education, and living situation at the time of injury). After discussion with an expert consensus group, 15 were recommended for inclusion in the data dictionary. This review identified numerous predictors capable of enabling early identification of those at risk for poor outcomes and improved personalization of care through inclusion in routine data collection.

Background Challenging behaviours are often a significant difficulty faced following acquired brain injury (ABI), for which PBS+PLUS (a Positive Behaviour Support framework) is an effective intervention. Clinicians report experiencing a range of barriers to supporting behaviour change for individuals with ABI and require tailored resources to support the implementation of PBS+PLUS. This study aimed to describe the process of co-designing a PBS+PLUS intervention guidebook and podcast series together with individuals with ABI, close-others, and clinicians, and qualitatively examine co-design experiences. Methods The Knowledge-To-Action Framework was followed to support the translation of PBS+PLUS into clinical practice. Participants with ABI (n  = 4), close-others (n  = 7), and clinicians (n  = 3) participated in focus groups contributing to the development of a PBS+PLUS intervention guidebook and podcast series. Following completion of the groups, qualitative interviews were conducted to understand participants' perspectives of the co-design experience. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Co-design processes are described, and participants provided practical suggestions for co-design and the dissemination of developed resources. Two core themes encapsulating four sub-themes were identified. Firstly, 'Esteeming Experiences ' described the person-driven approach of co-design whereby participants felt supported and connected with other contributors and facilitators through sharing their perspectives. Secondly, 'Empowerment ' reflected participants' increased confidence and skills in applying PBS+PLUS. Conclusions Overall, participants endorsed the therapeutic benefits of co-design engagement and high utility of PBS+PLUS resources. This study adds to the growing literature supporting the use of co-design methodology within clinical implementation, and is inclusive of individuals with ABI, close-others, and clinicians.

The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) aims to co-design a data resource to predict outcomes for people with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) across Australia. Fundamental to this resource is the data dictionary, which is an ontology of data items. Here, we report the systematic review and consensus process for inclusion of biological markers in the data dictionary. Standardized database searches were implemented from inception through April 2022. English-language studies evaluating association between a fluid, tissue, or imaging marker and any clinical outcome in at least 10 patients with moderate-severe TBI were included. Records were screened using a prioritization algorithm and saturation threshold in Research Screener. Full-length records were then screened in Covidence. A pre-defined algorithm was used to assign a judgement of predictive value to each observed association, and high-value predictors were discussed in a consensus process. Searches retrieved 106,593 records; 1,417 full-length records were screened, resulting in 546 included records. Two hundred thirty-nine individual markers were extracted, evaluated against 101 outcomes. Forty-one markers were judged to be high-value predictors of 15 outcomes. Fluid markers retained following the consensus process included ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), S100, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Imaging markers included computed tomography (CT) scores (e.g., Marshall scores), pathological observations (e.g., hemorrhage, midline shift), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classification (e.g., diffuse axonal injury). Clinical context and time of sampling of potential predictive indicators are important considerations for utility. This systematic review and consensus process has identified fluid and imaging biomarkers with high predictive value of clinical and long-term outcomes following moderate-severe TBI.

Background Stroke survivors' self-ratings of functional abilities are often inconsistent with ratings assigned by others (e.g. clinicians), a phenomenon referred to as 'impaired self-awareness' (ISA). There is limited knowledge of the biopsychosocial contributors and consequences of post-stroke ISA measured across the rehabilitation journey. This multi-site cohort study explored biopsychosocial correlates of ISA during subacute rehabilitation (inpatient) and at 4 months post-discharge (community-dwelling). Methods Forty-five subacute stroke survivors participated (Age M (s.d.) =  71.5 (15.6), 56% female), and 38 were successfully followed-up. Self-assessments were compared to those of an independent rater (occupational therapist, close other) to calculate ISA at both time points. Survivors and raters completed additional cognitive, psychological and functional measures. Results Multivariate regression (multiple outcomes) identified associations between ISA during inpatient admission and poorer outcomes at follow-up, including poorer functional cognition, participation restriction, caregiver burden, and close other depression and anxiety. Regression models applied cross-sectionally, including one intended for correlated predictors, indicated associations between ISA during inpatient admission and younger age, male sex, poorer functional cognition, poorer rehabilitation engagement and less frequent use of non-productive coping (adjusted R 2  = 0.60). ISA at community follow-up was associated with poorer functional cognition and close other anxiety (adjusted R 2  = 0.66). Conclusions Associations between ISA and poorer outcomes across the rehabilitation journey highlight the clinical importance of ISA and the value of assessment and management approaches that consider the potential influence of numerous biological and psychosocial factors on ISA. Future studies should use larger sample sizes to confirm these results and determine the causal mechanisms of these relationships.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) alters brain network connectivity. Structural covariance networks (SCNs) reflect morphological covariation between brain regions. SCNs may elucidate how altered brain network topology in TBI influences long-term outcomes. Here, we assessed whether SCN organisation is altered in individuals with chronic moderate-severe TBI (≥ 10 years post-injury) and associations with cognitive performance. This case-control study included fifty individuals with chronic moderate-severe TBI compared to 75 healthy controls recruited from an ongoing longitudinal head injury outcome study. SCNs were constructed using grey matter volume measurements from T1-weighted MRI images. Global and regional SCN organisation in relation to group membership and cognitive ability was examined using regression analyses. Globally, TBI participants had reduced small-worldness, longer characteristic path length, higher clustering, and higher modularity globally (p < 0.05). Regionally, TBI participants had greater betweenness centrality (p < 0.05) in frontal and central areas of the cortex. No significant associations were observed between global network measures and cognitive ability in participants with TBI (p > 0.05). Chronic moderate-severe TBI was associated with a shift towards a more segregated global network topology and altered organisation in frontal and central brain regions. There was no evidence that SCNs are associated with cognition., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background Persistent changes in sexuality often follow traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, health professionals remain reticent about discussing sexuality and have reported barriers including uncertainties around whose role it is and limited educational and institutional support. This study employed a co-design and implementation process, aiming to promote team-wide behavioural change, whereby health professionals at a TBI rehabilitation unit would attempt to address sexuality with patients routinely. Methods Focus group sessions with multidisciplinary health professionals were conducted to identify barriers and enablers to behavioural change, identify areas for development, and co-design intervention options. Implementation deliverables were then finalised and provided to the team. The Theoretical Domains Framework was used to map factors influencing behaviours and the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to map interventions. Thematic analysis was used to further analyse barrier themes. Results Thirty-five barriers and eight enablers falling within 12 theoretical domains to behavioural change were identified. Thematic analysis revealed highly correlated barriers in initiating and sustaining change. Nine co-designed intervention options aligned with five intervention functions of the Behaviour Change Wheel, resulting in six final implementation deliverables. Conclusions Barriers were highly interrelated, influencing the approach to implementation deliverables. Simultaneously addressing multiple barriers could potentially alleviate discomfort associated with discussing sexuality. Concerns around initiating change were related to confidence in achieving sustainable changes. Achieving change requires organisational and team-level environmental restructuring and enablement. The next step involves evaluating the effectiveness of the co-design and implementation process in driving behavioural change and potential impacts on patient satisfaction and sexuality outcomes.

Purpose: The delivery of healthcare services in rural locations can be challenging. From the perspectives of rural rehabilitation practitioners and compensation claims managers, this study explored the experience of providing and coordinating rehabilitation services for rural major traumatic injury survivors., Materials and Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 14 rural rehabilitation practitioners and 10 compensation claims managers were transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis was conducted., Results: Six themes were identified (1) Challenges finding and connecting with rural services, (2) Factors relating to insurance claims management, (3) Managing the demand for services, (4) Good working relationships, (5) Limited training and support, and (6) Client resilience and community. System-related barriers included a lack of available search resources to find rural rehabilitation services, limited service/clinician availability and funding policies lacking the flexibility to meet rehabilitation needs in a rural context. Strong peer and interdisciplinary relationships were viewed as crucial facilitators, which rural practitioners were particularly adept at developing., Conclusions: Greater consideration of unique needs within rural contexts is required when developing service delivery models. Specifically, flexible and equitable funding policies; facilitating interdisciplinary connections, support and training for rehabilitation practitioners and compensation claims managers; and harnessing clients' resilience may improve the delivery of rural services.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRural survivors of major traumatic injury often have ongoing health and rehabilitation needs and struggle to access required treatment services.Rehabilitation providers and compensation claims managers highlighted areas for improvement in rural areas, including resources for locating available services, funding the additional costs of rural service delivery, and greater service choice for clients.Building rural workforce capacity for treatment of major traumatic injury is needed, including improved clinician access to specialist training and support.Developing good working relationships between clients and clinicians, including interdisciplinary collaborations, and supporting client resilience and self-management should be promoted in future service delivery models.

Background Although individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be vulnerable to cyberscams, the lack of existing measures documenting cybersafety behaviours in people with ABI limits our understanding of ABI-specific risk factors, the frequency of this problem, and the ability to evaluate evidence-based interventions. The CyberABIlity Scale was developed to assess vulnerability in people with ABI via self-rated statements and practical scam-identification tasks. This study aimed to develop and refine The CyberABIlity Scale through feedback from clinicians and people with ABI. Methods Scale feedback was collected via three rounds of clinician surveys (n  = 14) using Delphi methods and two rounds of cognitive interviews with participants with ABI (n  = 8). Following each round, feedback was quantitatively and qualitatively summarised, and revisions were made accordingly. Results Key revisions included removing 12 items deemed irrelevant. Instructions and rating scales were revised to improve clarity. Cognitive interviews identified 15 comprehension errors, with further revisions made to support response clarity for participants with ABI. Clinicians and participants with ABI endorsed the content and face validities of The CyberABIlity Scale . Conclusions Following further validation, The CyberABIlity Scale has the potential to be an effective screening measure for online vulnerability for people with ABI within clinical and research settings.

Background: We investigated the value of automated enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) quantification to distinguish chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE + ) from chronic TBI patients without PTE (PTE - ) in a feasibility study., Methods: Patients with and without PTE were recruited and underwent an MRI post-TBI. Multimodal auto identification of ePVS algorithm was applied to T1-weighted MRIs to segment ePVS. The total number of ePVS was calculated and corrected for white matter volume, and an asymmetry index (AI) derived., Results: PTE was diagnosed in 7 out of the 99 participants (male=69) after a median time of less than one year since injury (range 10-22). Brain lesions were observed in all 7 PTE + cases (unilateral=4, 57%; bilateral=3, 43%) as compared to 40 PTE - cases (total 44%; unilateral=17, 42%; bilateral=23, 58%). There was a significant difference between PTE + (M=1.21e -4 , IQR [8.89e -5 ]) and PTE - cases (M=2.79e -4 , IQR [6.25e -5 ]) in total corrected numbers of ePVS in patients with unilateral lesions (p=0.024). No differences in AI, trauma severity and lesion volume were seen between groups., Conclusion: This study has shown that automated quantification of ePVS is feasible and provided initial evidence that individuals with PTE with unilateral lesions may have fewer ePVS compared to TBI patients without epilepsy. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to determine the value of ePVS quantification as a PTE-biomarker., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Author Gernot Hlauschek has served as a lecturer for Eisai, unrelated to this study. Author Morten Ingvar Lossius has served as a paid consultant and lecturer for Eisai, UCB and Arvelle Therapeutics, unrelated to this study. None of the other authors has any conflict of interest to disclose. We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Blood biomarkers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have recently been Food and Drug Administration approved as predictors of intracranial lesions on CT after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, most cases with mTBI are CT negative, and no biomarkers are approved to assist diagnosis in these individuals. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimal combination of blood biomarkers to assist mTBI diagnosis in otherwise healthy adults younger than 50 years presenting to an emergency department within 6 hours of injury. To further understand the utility of biomarkers, we assessed how biological sex, presence or absence of loss of consciousness and/or post-traumatic amnesia (LOC/PTA), and delayed presentation affected classification performance., Methods: Blood samples, symptom questionnaires, and cognitive tests were prospectively conducted for participants with mTBI recruited from The Alfred Hospital Level 1 Emergency & Trauma Center and uninjured controls. Follow-up testing was conducted at 7 days. Simoa quantified plasma GFAP, UCH-L1, tau, neurofilament light chain (NfL), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) analysis assessed classification accuracy for diagnosed mTBI, and logistic regression models identified optimal biomarker combinations., Results: Plasma IL-6 (AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.96), GFAP (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.93), and UCH-L1 (AUC 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.88) best differentiated mTBI (n = 74) from controls (n = 44) acutely (<6 hours), with NfL (AUC 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.90) the only marker to have such utility subacutely (7 days). Biomarker performance was similar between sexes and for participants with and without LOC/PTA, with the exception at 7 days, where GFAP and IL-6 retained some utility in female participants (GFAP: AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.88; IL-6: AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.87) and in those with LOC/PTA (GFAP: AUC 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.86; IL-6: AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.84). Acute IL-6 ( R 2 = 0.50, 95% CI 0.34-0.64) outperformed GFAP and UCH-L1 combined ( R 2 = 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-0.50), with the best acute model featuring GFAP and IL-6 ( R 2 = 0.54, 95% CI 0.34-0.68)., Discussion: These findings indicate that adding IL-6 to a panel of brain-specific proteins such as GFAP and UCH-L1 might assist in the acute diagnosis of mTBI in adults younger than 50 years. Multiple markers had high classification accuracy in participants without LOC/PTA. When compared with the best-performing acute markers, subacute measures of plasma NfL resulted in minimal reduction in classification accuracy. Future studies will investigate the optimal time frame over which plasma IL-6 might assist diagnostic decisions and how extracranial trauma affects utility., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)

Purpose: Whilst anyone can be scammed, individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) may have unique risk factors to cyberscams for which tailored interventions are required. To address this, a co-design approach was utilised to develop cybersafety resources with people with living experience of ABI and scams. This study aimed to evaluate the co-design experience to inform future utilisation of co-design methods., Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews explored perceived benefits and challenges, level of support and the co-design process for people with ABI ( n = 7) and an attendant care worker (ACW) ( n = 1). Transcripts were analysed using a six-stage reflexive thematic analysis., Results: Five themes were identified: "An Intervention Addressing Shame"; "Feeling Validated and Valued"; "Experiencing a 'Profound Change Amongst a Group of Peers'"; 'Gaining Stronger Scam Awareness'; and 'Taking Ownership'. Adjustments to support communication, memory impairments and fatigue in the co-design process were recommended., Conclusions: Participant reflections on the co-design process extended beyond resource design and highlighted therapeutic benefits of increased insight and emotional recovery from shame. Likely mechanisms underpinning these benefits were the peer group format and opportunities to make meaningful contributions. Despite identified challenges in facilitating co-design projects, the practical and emotional benefits reported by participants underscore the value of co-design with people with ABI. Implications for rehabilitationIndividuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be at increased risk of cyberscams due to cognitive impairments, for which tailored cyberscam interventions are required.Using a co-design approach maximises the relevance of training resources for individuals with ABI.Using a collaborative co-design approach to developing cybersafety training resources may facilitate scam awareness and peer support.Support for communication, memory impairments and fatigue may be necessary in co-design efforts with people with ABI.

Cyberscams, such as romance scams, are prevalent and costly online hazards in the general community. People with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) may be particularly vulnerable and have greater difficulty recovering from the resultant emotional and financial hardships. In order to build capacity in the neurorehabilitation sector, it is necessary to determine whether clinicians currently encounter this issue and what prevention and intervention approaches have been found effective. This scoping study aimed to explore clinicians' exposure to and experiences with cyberscams in their adult clients with ABI., Method: Participants were clinicians recruited from multidisciplinary networks across Australia and New Zealand. Eligible participants ( n = 101) completed an online customised survey., Results: More than half (53.46%) the participants had one or more clients affected by cyberscams, predominantly romance scams. Cognitive impairments and loneliness were reportedly associated with increased vulnerability. Cyberscams impacted treatment provision and were emotionally challenging for participants. No highly effective interventions were identified., Conclusions: These findings indicate that cyberscams are a clinical issue relevant to neurorehabilitation providers, with prevalence studies now required. The lack of effective interventions identified underscores the need for the development of evidence-based prevention and treatment approaches to ultimately help people with ABI safely participate in online life.

Background and Objectives: Enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) have been identified as a key signature of glymphatic system dysfunction in neurologic conditions. The incidence and clinical implications of ePVS after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not yet understood. We investigated whether individuals with chronic moderate-to-severe TBI had an increased burden of ePVS and whether ePVS burden is modulated by the presence of focal lesions, older brain age, and poorer sleep quality. We examined whether an increased burden of ePVS was associated with poorer cognitive and emotional outcomes., Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, participants with a single moderate-to-severe chronic TBI (sustained ≥10 years ago) were recruited from an inpatient rehabilitation program. Control participants were recruited from the community. Participants underwent 3T brain MRI, neuropsychological assessment, and clinical evaluations. ePVS burden in white matter was quantified using automated segmentation. The relationship between the number of ePVS, group membership, focal lesions, brain age, current sleep quality, and outcome was modeled using negative binomial and linear regressions., Results: This study included 100 participants with TBI (70% male; mean age = 56.8 years) and 75 control participants (54.3% male; mean age = 59.8 years). The TBI group had a significantly greater burden of ePVS (prevalence ratio rate [PRR] = 1.29, p = 0.013, 95% CI 1.05-1.57). The presence of bilateral lesions was associated with greater ePVS burden (PRR = 1.41, p = 0.021, 95% CI 1.05-1.90). There was no association between ePVS burden, sleep quality (PRR = 1.01, p = 0.491, 95% CI 0.98-1.048), and sleep duration (PRR = 1.03, p = 0.556, 95% CI 0.92-1.16). ePVS was associated with verbal memory (β = -0.42, p = 0.006, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.12), but not with other cognitive domains. The burden of ePVS was not associated with emotional distress (β = -0.70, p = 0.461, 95% CI -2.57 to 1.17) or brain age (PRR = 1.00, p = 0.665, 95% CI 0.99-1.02)., Discussion: TBI is associated with a greater burden of ePVS, especially when there have been bilateral brain lesions. ePVS was associated with reduced verbal memory performance. ePVS may indicate ongoing impairments in glymphatic system function in the chronic postinjury period., (© 2023 American Academy of Neurology.)

Objective: To explore factors associated with stability and change in fatigue from 6 to 12 months following traumatic brain injury (TBI)., Setting: Combined in- and outpatient acute care and postacute rehabilitation settings., Participants: A total of 103 patients with confirmed intracranial injury were assessed 6 and/or 12 months following TBI., Design: A prospective observational study with repeated measures at 2 time points, analyzed with a hybrid mixed-effects model., Main Measures: Primary outcomes were the fatigue factor derived from items from several fatigue patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; Fatigue Severity Scale, Chalder Fatigue Scale, Giessen Subjective Complaints List-fatigue subscale, and Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire-fatigue item) Secondary outcomes were PROMs relating to pain, somatic and psychological distress, insomnia, sleepiness, personality traits, optimism, resilience, behavioral activation and inhibition, and loneliness, as well as neuropsychological measures. Demographic variables and injury severity characteristics were included as covariates., Results: In multilevel regression, female sex, years of education, and 3 factors related to injury severity, somatic vulnerability, and psychosocial robustness were all significantly associated with variation in fatigue between subjects, and explained 61% of the variance in fatigue that was due to stable between-subject differences. Fatigue levels declined significantly over time. Changes in pain severity, somatic symptom burden, psychological distress, and behavioral inhibition were positively associated with changes in fatigue, explaining 22% of the variance in fatigue within subjects., Conclusions: The study demonstrated that several previously implicated factors show robust effects in distinguishing individuals with TBI on levels of fatigue, but only a few show additional within-subject associations across time. Pain severity, somatic symptom burden, psychological distress, and behavioral inhibition correlated with fatigue across time, implicating these factors as crucial targets for rehabilitation of patients with TBI who suffer from persistent fatigue., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Focal and diffuse pathology resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) often disrupts brain circuitry that is critical for episodic memory, including medial temporal lobe and prefrontal regions. Prior studies have focused on unitary accounts of temporal lobe function, associating verbally learned material and brain morphology. Medial temporal lobe structures, however, are domain-sensitive, preferentially supporting different visual stimuli. There has been little consideration of whether TBI preferentially disrupts the type of visually learned material and its association with cortical morphology following injury. Here, we investigated whether (1) episodic memory deficits differ according to the stimulus type, and (2) the pattern in memory performance can be linked to changes in cortical thickness., Methods: Forty-three individuals with moderate-severe TBI and 38 demographically similar healthy controls completed a recognition task in which memory was assessed for three categories of stimuli: faces, scenes, and animals. The association between episodic memory accuracy on this task and cortical thickness was subsequently examined within and between groups., Results: Our behavioral results support the notion of category-specific impairments: the TBI group had significantly impaired accuracy for memory for faces and scenes, but not animals. Moreover, the association between cortical thickness and behavioral performance was only significant for faces between groups., Conclusion: Taken together, these behavioral and structural findings provide support for an emergent memory account, and highlight that cortical thickness differentially affects episodic memory for specific categories of stimuli., (© 2023 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Symptoms of depression are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI), impacting survivors' ability to return to work, participate in leisure activities, and placing strain on relationships. Depression symptoms post TBI are often managed with pharmacotherapy, however, there is little research evidence to guide clinical practice. There have been a number of recent systematic reviews examining pharmacotherapy for post TBI depression. The aim of this umbrella review was to synthesize systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for the management of post TBI depression in adults. Eligible reviews examined any pharmacotherapy against any comparators, for the treatment of depression in adults who had sustained TBI. Seven databases were searched, with additional searching of online journals, Research Gate, Google Scholar and the TRIP Medical Database to identify published and unpublished systematic reviews and meta-analyses in English up to May 2020. A systematic review of primary studies available between March 2018 and May 2020 was also conducted. Evidence quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instruments. The results are presented as a narrative synthesis. Twenty-two systematic reviews were identified, of which ten reviews contained a meta-analysis. No new primary studies were identified in the systematic review. There was insufficient high quality and methodologically rigorous evidence to recommend prescribing any specific drug or drug class for post TBI depression. The findings do show, however, that depression post TBI is responsive to pharmacotherapy in at least some individuals. Recommendations for primary studies, systematic reviews and advice for prescribers is provided. Review Registration PROSPERO (CRD42020184915)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: For the 30% of Australians who live in rural areas, access to rehabilitation services after sustaining a major traumatic injury can be challenging. This study aimed to explore the experience of rural major traumatic injury survivors accessing rehabilitation services., Materials and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 rural major traumatic injury survivors ( M age = 47.86; SD  = 11.35; Range: 21-61) who were an average of seven years post-injury ( SD  = 3.10; Range: 3.25-13.01). Transcribed interviews were thematically analysed., Results: Four themes were identified: (1) Managing the transition back to local services , (2) Independence and determination to get better , (3) Rehabilitation is an ongoing process , and (4) Limited service access and quality. While injury-related symptoms persisted for many participants, they expressed strong determination for independence and self-management of their recovery. Barriers to accessing rehabilitation services included poor knowledge of local services, travel burden, financial costs, and a lack of local practitioners experienced in major traumatic injury rehabilitation. Facilitating factors included financial, psychological, community, and informal supports., Conclusions: To support recovery, future rural service models should improve consideration of factors resulting from living at a distance to services and harness independence to self-manage.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRural major traumatic injury survivors need support to navigate numerous barriers to accessing rehabilitation services.Rural participants expressed their preference for greater involvement in planning their transition back home following hospitalisation and help to link with available services in their local area.Specialist training and support for rural rehabilitation practitioners is needed, to effectively treat impairments related to major traumatic injury, particularly psychological and cognitive difficulties.Future service delivery models should incorporate methods to locate rural services; facilitate telehealth access and client self-management; and provide financial and mental health support to both rural survivors of major traumatic injury and their carers.

Individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be vulnerable to cyberscams due to their cognitive and psychosocial impairments. However, the lived experiences of cyberscam survivors with ABI and their close others is not understood, and no effective intervention has been identified. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of cyberscam survivors with ABI ( n  = 7) and their close others ( n  = 6). Semi-structured interviews explored the scam experience, impacts, vulnerabilities and interventions. Reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified seven themes: "who is at the helm?: vulnerabilities," "the lure: scammer tactics," "scammers aboard: scam experience," "the discovery," "sinking in: impacts," "responding to the mayday: responses from others," and "lifesavers: suggestions for intervention." The journey towards scam victimisation was complex, and complicated by the ABI. Cyberscams contributed to substantial financial disadvantage, loss of trust and shame. ABI related impairments and social isolation reportedly increased scam vulnerability and interfered with intervention attempts by family and professionals. Confusion, denial and disbelief created further barriers to discovery. The practical and emotional impacts on both cyberscam survivors with ABI and their family members, and a lack of effective intervention, highlight the need for increased education and awareness in order to improve online safety for those with ABI.

The seven-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale (HADS-D) and the total score of the 14-item HADS (HADS-T) are both used for major depression screening. Compared to the HADS-D, the HADS-T includes anxiety items and requires more time to complete. We compared the screening accuracy of the HADS-D and HADS-T for major depression detection. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis and fit bivariate random effects models to assess diagnostic accuracy among participants with both HADS-D and HADS-T scores. We identified optimal cutoffs, estimated sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals, and compared screening accuracy across paired cutoffs via two-stage and individual-level models. We used a 0.05 equivalence margin to assess equivalency in sensitivity and specificity. 20,700 participants (2,285 major depression cases) from 98 studies were included. Cutoffs of ≥7 for the HADS-D (sensitivity 0.79 [0.75, 0.83], specificity 0.78 [0.75, 0.80]) and ≥15 for the HADS-T (sensitivity 0.79 [0.76, 0.82], specificity 0.81 [0.78, 0.83]) minimized the distance to the top-left corner of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Across all sets of paired cutoffs evaluated, differences of sensitivity between HADS-T and HADS-D ranged from -0.05 to 0.01 (0.00 at paired optimal cutoffs), and differences of specificity were within 0.03 for all cutoffs (0.02-0.03). The pattern was similar among outpatients, although the HADS-T was slightly (not nonequivalently) more specific among inpatients. The accuracy of HADS-T was equivalent to the HADS-D for detecting major depression. In most settings, the shorter HADS-D would be preferred. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Agitation is common during post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is associated with risk of harm to patients and caregivers. Antipsychotics are frequently used to manage agitation in early TBI recovery despite limited evidence to support their efficacy, safety, and impact upon patient outcomes. The sedating and cognitive side effects of these agents are theorized to exacerbate confusion during PTA, leading to prolonged PTA duration and increased agitation. This study, conducted in a subacute inpatient rehabilitation setting, describes the results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of olanzapine for agitation management during PTA, analyzed as an n-of-1 series. Group comparisons were additionally conducted, examining level of agitation; number of agitated days; agitation at discharge, duration, and depth of PTA; length of hospitalization; cognitive outcome; adverse events; and rescue medication use. Eleven agitated participants in PTA (mean [M] age = 39.82 years, standard deviation [SD] = 20.06; mean time post-injury = 46.09 days, SD = 32.75) received oral olanzapine ( n  = 5) or placebo ( n  = 6) for the duration of PTA, beginning at a dose of 5 mg/day and titrated every 3 to 4 days to a maximum dose of 20 mg/day. All participants received recommended environmental management for agitation. A significant decrease in agitation with moderate to very large effect (Tau-U effect size = 0.37-0.86) was observed for three of five participants receiving olanzapine, while no significant reduction in agitation over the PTA period was observed for any participant receiving placebo. Effective olanzapine dose ranged from 5-20 mg. Response to treatment was characterized by lower level of agitation and response to treatment within 3 days. In group analyses, participants receiving olanzapine demonstrated poorer orientation and memory during PTA with large effect size (olanzapine, mean = 9.32, SD = 0.69; placebo, M = 10.68, SD = 0.30; p  = .009, d  = -2.16), and a trend toward longer PTA duration with large effect size (olanzapine, M = 71.96 days, SD = 20.31; placebo, M = 47.50 days, SD = 11.27; p  = 0.072, d  = 1.26). No further group comparisons were statistically significant. These results suggest that olanzapine can be effective in reducing agitation during PTA, but not universally so. Importantly, administration of olanzapine during PTA may lead to increased patient confusion, possibly prolonging PTA. When utilizing olanzapine, physicians must therefore balance the possible advantages of agitation management with the possibility that the patient may never respond to the medication and may experience increased confusion, longer PTA and potentially poorer outcomes. Further high-quality research is required to support these findings and the efficacy and outcomes associated with the use of any pharmacological agent for the management of agitation during the PTA period.

Objective: To investigate the factor structure of the Agitated Behavior Scale (ABS) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in posttraumatic amnesia (PTA)., Setting: Inpatient TBI rehabilitation ward in Victoria, Australia., Participants: A total of 364 patients aged 16 to 92 years meeting diagnostic criteria for TBI and PTA admitted between September 2013 and October 2020., Design: Retrospective cohort study utilizing electronic medical record data., Main Measures: The ABS and the Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale (WPTAS)., Results: Exploratory factor analysis uncovered 2 moderately correlated underlying factors (0.52), labeled Restlessness and Aggression/Lability. Two items failed to demonstrate sufficiently large loadings on either factor. Both factors demonstrated adequate reliability (Cronbach α = 0.87 and 0.81 for Restlessness and Aggression/Lability, respectively). Linear regression indicated that higher WPTAS scores were associated with lower levels of Restlessness (β = -.14, P < .001), supporting construct validity. Conversely, WPTAS scores were not significantly associated with Aggression/Lability (β = -.12, P = .08). Subgroup analysis indicated that a history of mood disorder was associated with greater severity of Aggression/Lability (P = .02). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated superior fit of the identified 2-factor solution when compared with previously explored 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-factor structures., Conclusion: This study suggests that the latent structure of the ABS is best explained by a single construct of agitation with 2 discrete facets reflecting Restlessness and Aggression/Lability. These subscales may be used in clinical practice to evaluate the severity of different aspects of agitated behavior, inform treatment decisions, and judge the efficacy of interventions over time. Further research is required to explain low factor loadings demonstrated by 2 items., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)