Comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Usual Care Rehabilitation for Adults Aged 18 to 49 with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating treatments for symptoms related to mild traumatic brain injury mTBI, particularly in military service members who experience lasting symptoms such as dizziness, headache, and cognitive issues. This clinical trial compares Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Integrated Rehabilitation ACT, a therapy combining mindfulness and behavioral techniques, with usual care rehabilitation. The goal is to see if the combined ACT and rehabilitation approach improves symptom relief and functional recovery more effectively than usual care alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives the ACT intervention, which includes weekly in-person therapy sessions over four weeks plus daily at-home activities focusing on psychological flexibility and goal setting alongside targeted vestibular therapy and behavioral management strategies. The other group receives usual care rehabilitation tailored to individual needs, including therapies such as vestibular rehabilitation, neuropsychology, physical therapy, and general mental health support, but without ACT components. During the study, participants will be evaluated at baseline, after the 4-week treatment, and then at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Assessments include questionnaires measuring anxiety, neurobehavioral symptoms, dizziness, mood, PTSD symptoms, disability, and activity levels, as well as objective measures like eye movement tracking and physical activity monitoring using Fitbit devices. This allows researchers to monitor symptom changes, functional improvements, and overall health throughout and after the treatment period.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Integrated Vestibular Rehabilitation (ACTIVE) RCT