An Intervention to Improve Emotion Regulation in Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of Online EmReg, a telehealth group intervention to improve emotion regulation (ER) in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial with the waitlist control (WL) group.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 109 individuals with TBI (66% mild; 34% moderate/severe) and deficits in ER.

INTERVENTION: Twenty-four biweekly sessions of Online EmReg.

MEASURES: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Problem Solving Inventory, Dysexecutive Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in ER were noted in both the immediate start and the WL groups by the end of the treatment. Significant differences in ER were found between the immediate start end-of-treatment scores and the WL treatment-onset scores on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. No changes were found between end-of-treatment and follow-up assessment scores in either group. The rate of improvement was similar for both groups during the treatment phase. Significant improvements were also noted on self-report measures of affect, satisfaction with life, and executive functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence supports the efficacy of Online EmReg to improve ER following TBI.