Group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy to Support Recovery After Acquired Brain Injury: A Clinical Development and Evaluation Study

NCT07852936 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EAET after ABI
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 110
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Difficulties in understanding and managing emotions may hinder recovery, rehabilitation, and participation in everyday life after acquired brain injury (ABI). Yet interventions targeting emotional adjustment after ABI remain limited. The aim of the study is to investigate whether emotion-focused group therapy, based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), can support recovery after ABI. The intervention helps participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs related to their illness and changed life circumstances. Effects on emotional functioning, quality of life, activity, and participation will be assessed over time, alongside interviews exploring participants' experiences.

Conditions

Aquired Brain Injury; Stroke; MTBI - Mild Traumatic Brain Injury; mTBI; Encephalitis; Meningitis; Hypoxia Ischemia, Cerebral

Keywords

EAET; Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy; Psychotherapy; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Brief Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS)

  Evalutates three core components of emotion regulation: "Identifying emotions"; "Processing emotions", "Expressing emotions".

  Baseline (pre-intervention), post-treatment (10 weeks after baseline), 3-month follow-up (approximately 22 weeks after baseline), 12-month follow-up (approximately 62 weeks after baseline).

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI)

  Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

• Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS)

  Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

• Short Form 36 (SF-36)

  Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

• Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ)

  Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

• Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

  Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Arm 1

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Treatment as Usual

Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Arm 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Treatment as Usual + Group Therapy (EAET)

Behavioral: TAU + Group Therapy (EAET)

Interventions

TAU + Group Therapy (EAET) BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral: Treatment as usual • Individually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support. Behavioral: Group-based Emotional and Expression Therapy (EAET) • 10-session manualized group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) designed to help participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs. Weekly group sessions are complemented by structured homework assignments. A follow-up session is provided three months after completion of the intervention. The intervention is delivered by a clinical psychologist.

Arm 2

Treatment as Usual (TAU) BEHAVIORAL

Individually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support.

Arm 1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Person of working age, primarily 18-65 years.
• Acquired brain injury.
• At least three months since the time of injury.
• Signs of significant psychological distress, such as mental health difficulties, vulnerability to mental health problems, or dysfunctional coping.
• Sufficient cognitive functioning and proficiency in Swedish to participate in group-based talk therapy.

You may not qualify if:

• Current severe mental illness (e.g., psychosis or severe personality disorder).
• Active substance use disorder.
• Severe cognitive impairment that precludes participation in group-based talk therapy.
• Other medical conditions that, based on clinical assessment, may make participation inappropriate.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uppsala University: lead
• Region Uppsala Public Health and Care: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Uppsala University Hospital

Uppsala, Sweden

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Brain Concussion; Encephalitis; Meningitis; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain

Interventions

Psychotherapy, Group; Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Brain Injuries; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Head Injuries, Closed; Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Brain Ischemia; Hypoxia, Brain; Hypoxia; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Socioenvironmental Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Anna Nordström, M.D.

  Uppsala University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Peter Nordström, Professor

  Uppsala University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Jakob Nissen, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

CONTACT

0046 18 611 24 85; jakob.nissen@akademiska.se

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2026
• First Posted: October 1, 2026
• Study Start: September 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2031
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2031
• Last Updated: October 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)