According to a recent study published in Neuropsychopharmacology, a promising new treatment may offer traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients improved outcomes. Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine found that combining methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, with cognitive-behavioral therapy improves memory, attention, and executive functioning for TBI patients.
Participants in the study were all adults who had suffered at least a mild traumatic brain injury and later demonstrated cognitive problems as a result. The efficacy of two different forms of cognitive therapy was also analyzed in the study: Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT) and Attention Builders Training (ABT).
The study was designed to test both types of therapy with and without Ritalin. Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is a stimulant widely used to improve focus and attention in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD.) It seems logical that it could benefit TBI patients in much the same way.
The participants were divided into four groups, with each receiving a different program of treatment: MAAT & methylphenidate, ABT & methylphenidate, MAAT & placebo, and ABT and placebo. The group receiving MAAT and methylphenidate showed notable improvements when compared to the other three groups.
MAAT has also shown results in improving memory and focus in breast cancer patients suffering cognitive decline after chemotherapy. MAAT helps patients with cognitive deficits become aware of situations where memory can falter and build skills to either prevent memory failure or compensate for it. With a fairly small participant group, obviously more research needs to be done. But these results offer hope to TBI patients that they may one day regain the focus and memory they once had before their injury.
Cherry Hill Personal Injury Lawyers at Folkman Law Offices, P.C. Fight for Victims of TBI
If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI in South Jersey or throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, the Cherry Hill Personal Injury Lawyers at Folkman Law Offices, P.C. can help. The experienced South Jersey brain injury lawyers at Folkman Law will fight for the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your recovery. Call our Cherry Hill, New Jersey office at 856-354-9444 to schedule a free initial review of your case, or contact us online. With offices in Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Folkman Law Associates serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
