NCT06036147

Brief Summary

More than 1 million U.S. youth sustain a concussion each year, and up to 30% report persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) lasting 1 month or more. PPCS can interfere with normal adolescent development, resulting in issues with socioemotional dysfunction and even school failure. However, few evidence based treatments are available for youth with PPCS. The investigators conducted extensive work adapting a collaborative care framework for youth with PPCS, combining concussion-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (cf-CBT), parent skills training (PST) and care management (CM) to create a wraparound treatment for youth with PPCS that can be delivered either in-person or virtually. They completed an R01-funded randomized controlled trial with this approach, finding effectiveness for youth with PPCS, with improvements in concussive symptoms and quality of life at one year, and 60% of participants completing the intervention entirely virtually. Of note, this intervention is unique in that two of the components are focused on parents or parents and youth together (PST, CM), and only one of the components (cf-CBT) is solely youth focused. The investigators now propose to optimize and refine this approach, conducting a high efficiency MOST (multiphase optimization strategy) trial to assess the contribution of each of the three components (cf-CBT, PST and CM) to effectiveness, thereby enabling streamlining of the intervention to only include active components. The analysis will be factorial, with three intervention components and two levels of each (present or absent), resulting in 8 treatment pathways. The benefit of the MOST approach is that it combines all youth who receive a component, allowing assessment of all treatment components with only a modest sample size. The study will recruit 374 youth with PPCS, randomizing them to one of 8 treatment groups. Youth and/or parents will attend treatment sessions via video conferencing software over three months, and complete surveys regarding primary outcomes (concussive symptoms and health-related quality of life) and secondary outcomes (sleep, pain, mood and parental distress) at 6 weeks, and 3, 6 and 12 months. Potential mediators and moderators will also be assessed to allow for future tailoring and refinement. At the completion of this study, the investigators will have generated a completely optimized and refined intervention for youth with PPCS ready for large scale implementation and dissemination.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
304

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
21mo left

Started Nov 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress59%
Nov 2023Jan 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 6, 2023

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 13, 2023

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 10, 2023

Completed
4.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 31, 2028

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 31, 2028

Last Updated

March 13, 2025

Status Verified

March 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4.2 years

First QC Date

September 6, 2023

Last Update Submit

March 10, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Health Behavior Inventory (HBI)

    A 20-item questionnaire that assesses concussive symptoms on a 4-point scale, ranging from "never" to "often," and yields total scores in cognitive and somatic domains. The scale includes youth-report and parent-report versions with established reliability and validity in youth with sports-injury. Possible scores range from 0-60 with higher indicating more symptomatic (i.e., worse).

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)

    A 23-item questionnaire that assesses physical, emotional, social and school functioning. The scale includes youth-report and parent-report versions. Possible scores range from 0- 100 with 100 indicating higher quality of life (i.e., better).

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item (GAD-7)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale-10 item (ASWS-10)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Headache daily diary

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (3)

  • Parent-Patient Activation Measure (P-PAM)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Generalized self-efficacy (GSE)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

  • Adult responses to child's symptoms (ARCS)

    Trajectory over one year (baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year)

Study Arms (8)

Pathway 1

EXPERIMENTAL

All interventions: cf-CBT, PST \& CM

Behavioral: Concussion-focused cognitive behavioral therapyBehavioral: Parent skills trainingBehavioral: Care management

Pathway 2

EXPERIMENTAL

cf-CBT \& PST

Behavioral: Concussion-focused cognitive behavioral therapyBehavioral: Parent skills training

Pathway 3

EXPERIMENTAL

cf-CBT \& CM

Behavioral: Concussion-focused cognitive behavioral therapyBehavioral: Care management

Pathway 4

EXPERIMENTAL

cf-CBT only

Behavioral: Parent skills trainingBehavioral: Care management

Pathway 5

EXPERIMENTAL

PST \& CM

Behavioral: Concussion-focused cognitive behavioral therapy

Pathway 6

EXPERIMENTAL

PST only

Behavioral: Parent skills training

Pathway 7

EXPERIMENTAL

CM only

Behavioral: Care management

Pathway 8

NO INTERVENTION

No interventions

Interventions

Youth randomized to receive this component will participate in six 30-minute sessions of cf-CBT. The intervention includes modular CBT targeting post-concussive, anxiety and depressive symptoms. In this CBT treatment, the adolescent can be taught coping skills, relaxation strategies, and cognitive strategies to manage their symptoms, while they are encouraged to increase appropriate activation, including pacing of activities. Six sessions from the CHIP Study Cognitive and Behavioral Skills for Concussion Recovery will be chosen by the interventionist based on the youth's goals in the Introduction Session.

Also known as: cf-CBT
Pathway 1Pathway 2Pathway 3Pathway 5

The focus of the PST component is on the use of positive parenting skills as well as helping parents manage their own emotional distress. Parents are taught to set positive recovery expectations, and to use praise or attention to increase their teen's positive coping behaviors and decrease unhelpful coping behaviors. They are also taught positive communication skills to use with their teen, and guided to schedule pleasant events together in order to strengthen the relationship. In-vivo skills practice and feedback are provided to help parents generalize and use PST techniques. Parents randomized to receive this component will participate in six 30-minute sessions of PST, chosen from the CHIP Study Parent Support Skills Training for Concussion recovery based on the parent's goals in the Introduction Session.

Also known as: PST
Pathway 1Pathway 2Pathway 4Pathway 6
Care managementBEHAVIORAL

In the CM component, parents are provided support regarding advocating for their child's needs across different contexts in the healthcare system, school and athletic departments (including guidance regarding medication referrals), using applied problem-solving together with the skills coach to address emergent needs. Adolescents can also be involved in CM, if developmentally appropriate based on their age, independence, and interest. Of note, while the CM component engages youth and parents, treatment effects are hypothesized to result from facilitating access to supportive services including medication referrals at the organizational level. Families randomized to receive this component will participate in six 30-minute sessions of CM, following the guidelines in the CHIP Care Management Manual.

Also known as: CM
Pathway 1Pathway 3Pathway 4Pathway 7

Eligibility Criteria

Age11 Years - 18 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • years old
  • Health care provider diagnosed concussion within 1-12 months
  • ≥ 3 new onset or worsening post-concussive symptoms (measured with the HBI)
  • Can be located anywhere as study is all completed remotely

You may not qualify if:

  • Active suicidal ideation, diagnosis of psychosis or psychiatric hospitalization within 6 months
  • Spinal cord injury or other severe injury or illness that might impede participation
  • Youth or parent not fluent in Spanish or English
  • Chronic illness or medical conditions that prevent participation in concussion-focused treatment

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW)

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (3)

  • Nechitailenko PA. [Various circulatory and external respiratory reactions with different methods of dosed swimming]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1972 Mar-Apr;37(2):170-2. No abstract available. Russian.

    PMID: 5051206BACKGROUND
  • McCarty CA, Zatzick DF, Marcynyszyn LA, Wang J, Hilt R, Jinguji T, Quitiquit C, Chrisman SPD, Rivara FP. Effect of Collaborative Care on Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms in Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e210207. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0207.

    PMID: 33635325BACKGROUND
  • McCarty CA, Hennings T, Zhou C, Law EF, Zatzick D, Chrisman SPD. Concussion Health Improvement Program (CHIP): study protocol for a randomized controlled optimization trial for youth with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Trials. 2024 Oct 9;25(1):668. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08494-y.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Brain Concussion

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Injuries, TraumaticBrain InjuriesBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesCraniocerebral TraumaTrauma, Nervous SystemHead Injuries, ClosedWounds and InjuriesWounds, Nonpenetrating

Study Officials

  • Sara P Chrisman, MD MPH

    Seattle Children's Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Carolyn A McCarty, PhD

    Seattle Children's Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sara P Chrisman, MD MPH

CONTACT

Carolyn McCarty, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Masking Details
Outcomes are all assessed via self-report so masking of research team is not necessary. Participants and interventionists cannot be masked as to what intervention the participants receiving.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Model Details: Youth are randomized into one of 8 pathways which are all combinations of three intervention approaches.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 6, 2023

First Posted

September 13, 2023

Study Start

November 10, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2028

Last Updated

March 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations