Brenner et al.

(2017)

Australia

RCT

PEDro=6

N_Start=44, N_End=35

Population: TBI. Intervention Group (n=15): Mean Age=47.7yr; Gender: Male=13, Female=1, Transgender=1. Waitlist Group (n=20): Mean Age=54.6yr; Gender: Male=19, Female=1, Transgender=0.

Intervention: Participants were randomized to receive a manualized, small-group cognitive behavioural intervention focused on alleviating hopelessness or to a waitlist. The intervention was 2hr and delivered weekly for 10 wk. Participants were crossed over to the alternate intervention after 10 wk. Assessments occurred at baseline, 10wk, and20 wk.

Outcome Measure: Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI).

1.        After controlling for baseline BHS scores, the intervention group had significantly lower hopelessness post intervention compared to those on the waitlist (p=0.03); these reductions were maintained at follow-up.

2.        The waitlist group demonstrated significant reductions on the BHS (p=0.01) and depression (p=0.003) after completing the intervention.

3.        There were no significant between-group differences for the BDI or BSSI.

Simpson et al.

(2011)

Australia

RCT

PEDro=8

N=17

Population: TBI; Severity: Severe. Treatment Group (n=8): Mean Age=39.4yr; Mean Time Post Injury=6.3 yr. Control Group (n=9): Mean Age=44.1yr; Mean Time Post Injury=7.6 yr.

Intervention: Participants were randomized to receive a manualized, small-group cognitive behavioural intervention focused on alleviating hopelessness or to a waitlist. The intervention was 2 hr and delivered weekly for 10 wk. Participants were crossed over to the alternate intervention after 10 wk. Assessments occurred at baseline, 10wk, and 20 wk.

Outcome Measure: Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Herth Hope Index (HHI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE), Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R).

1.        Significant group-by-time interaction on BHS (p=0.002) but no significant main effects for either group or time.

2.        Individuals receiving treatment had larger improvements in hopelessness (BHS scores) at 10wk; 75% reduced hopelessness by 1 severity band and 50% maintained/reduced severity by 20 wk.

3.        Hopelessness on BHS improved significantly from pre to post treatment for all participants (p=0.008), a clinical improvement from moderate to mild severity.

4.        Suicidal ideation according to mean BSSI scores was stable in the treatment group, but increased in the control group.

5.        No significant change on BSSI, HADS, HHI, RSE, and SPSI-R were found.

Barnes et al.

(2017)

USA

Post-Test

N_Start=17, N_End=13

Population: TBI; Median Age=54.5 yr; Gender: Male=12, Female=2; Severity: Moderate=4, Severe=10.

Intervention: Participants received 10 sessions of problem-solving therapy for suicide prevention. Assessments occurred after the intervention.

Outcome Measure: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8), Narrative Evaluation of Intervention Interview (NEII).

1.        On the CSQ-8, participants reported high satisfaction with the program (mean score=27.8).

2.        On the NEII, participants reported that they found the intervention valuable, beneficial, and without negative effects.