Table 6.2 The Effect of Dual-Task Training on Speed of Processing Post ABI
Author Year Country Research Design PEDro Sample Size |
Methods | Outcome |
Couillet et al. (2010) France RCT PEDro=5 N=12 |
Population: severe TBI; Gender: Male=9, Female=3. Group 1 (n=5): Mean Age=23.8yr; Mean GCS=4.8; Mean Time Post Injury=6.3mo. Group 2 (n=7): Mean Age=26.7yr; Mean GCS=4.8; Mean Time Post Injury=16.1mo. Intervention: Randomized AB versus BA design, where “A” represents the control phase and “B” represents the treatment (dual-task training) phase. In the dual-task phase, patients were trained to conduct two concurrent tasks simultaneously. Group 1 started with the control phase (AB) and Group 2 (BA) with the treatment phase. Each phase lasted 6 wk (4, 1 hr sessions/wk). Outcome Measure: Test Battery for Attentional Performance (TAP: divided attention and flexibility subtests), Go-no go and Digit Span, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Brown-Peterson Paradigm, Rating Scale of Attentional Behaviour. |
1. Following training, there was a significant improvement in the 2 tasks that targeted divided attention (TAP-divided attention, Go-no go and Digit Span: p<0.0001 for both). 2. The two groups differed significantly at 6 wk with those in the BA design doing better on TAP reaction times (p<0.01), the digit span dual-task (p<0.001), and the Rating Scale of Attentional Behaviour (p<0.01). 3. There were significant differences between groups at 6 wks on the Stroop test (p<0.001) and the flexibility subtest of the TAP (p<0.001), but not the Trail Making Test or the Brown-Peterson task. 4. Experimental training had no significant effects on non-target measures. |
Stablum et al. (2000) Italy Case-Control N=38 |
Population: Condition: Chronic Head Injury (CHI)=10 [mean age:25.6 yr, time since injury: 27.8 months]. Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm (ACoA)=9 [mean age: 43.22 yr, time since injury=3.66 months]. Controls=19 (CHI study n=10, ACoA study n=9; Age Range: 14-68yr). Intervention: CHI study: Neuropsychological assessments (i.e., Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT)) were conducted. As well as a Dual-Task Paradigm: Participant had to indicate the position (right or left) of the stimuli and saying aloud if stimuli were congruent. Participants were evaluated at baseline, retest after treatment, and at 3 months follow-up. ACoA study: Neurological Assessments and Dual-task paradigm were conducted similar to the CHI study, but participants also performed a Continuous Performance Task (CPT) measuring inhibition responses in executive functioning. Participants were evaluated at baseline, retest after treatment, and at 3 months and 12 months follow-up. Outcome Measure: WCST, PASAT, CPT, dual-task cost. |
CHI study: 1. Significant difference between patients and controls on number of preservative errors (p<0.017) and categories (p<0.020) achieved in WCST, and PASAT mean time (p=0.031). 2. Reaction time was slower for CHI patients than controls in dual-task (p<0.005); dual task cost significantly greater for CHI patients than controls (p<0.028). 3. At retest and at 3-months follow-up reaction time was slower for CHI patients than controls (p<0.0001); but patients demonstrated a greater reduction in dual-task cost after treatment (54 vs 22 ms). ACoA Study: 4. ACoA patients had slower reaction times than controls on CPT (p<0.001). 5. Reaction time for closed head injury (p<0.0001) and aneurysm (p<0.007) group significantly slower than control. 6. Inhibiting a habitual response took ACoA patients significantly longer than controls on the CPT (p<0.011). 7. The dual-task cost was greater for the ACoA group compared to the control group (p<0.0001). 8. The dual-task cost was significantly greater at assessment than at retest, 3, and 12-month followup (p<0.0001); after treatment ACoA patients could co-ordinate two responses as efficiently as controls at 6-month re-assessment. |