A new meta-analysis has found substantial evidence for the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in managing anxiety and depression in patients with traumatic brain injury.
The researchers identified previously published research articles on the use of CBT for anxiety and/or depression, focusing on randomised control trials in which brain injury participants were 18 years or older and had experienced their injury at least 3 months previously.
Collating the results of the 13 identified studies, the researchers found that CBT interventions had immediate effects of reducing depression and anxiety. The effects were sustained for depression at a 3-months follow up and were higher for groups who had received individualised CBT compared to group-based CBT.
CBT is a talking therapy that can address mental health difficulties by addressing the links between thoughts and behaviour. Find out more about CBT from the NHS website, and read more about coping with anxiety and depression after brain injury from our free-to-download publications on these topics, available below or from our Information Library.
Reference: Barua, U., Ahrens, J., Shao, R., MacKenzie, H., Wolfe, D., Sequeira, K., Teasell, R., Loh, E., & Mehta, S. (2024). Cognitive behavioral therapy for managing depressive and anxiety symptoms after brain injury: a meta-analysis. Brain Injury, 38(3).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2024.2309264
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