Building Resilience and Improving Neurocognition (BRAIN): Feasibility and acceptability of a novel, multimodal telehealth cognitive rehabilitation intervention

Abstract

Objective Cognitive deficits can impact daily functioning, general health, and psychological functioning. Multimodal group rehabilitation interventions designed for telehealth administration can optimally provide access and essential services for those who would otherwise not seek these services. We conducted a quality improvement project examining the feasibility and acceptability of Building Resilience and Improving Neurocognition (BRAIN), an eight-week multimodal telehealth cognitive rehabilitation group. Method Participants were veterans referred to a VA neuropsychology clinic for group cognitive rehabilitation. Self-report measures were used to collect information about general health, cognitive, and psychological concerns pre- and post-intervention. Twenty-two veterans with cognitive concerns pertaining to psychosocial factors or neurocognitive disorders completed pre- and post-intervention outcome measures. Results Paired samples t-tests evaluated whether BRAIN improved self-reported emotional and functional status based on five self-report measures: MSNQ, WHODAS 2.0, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PCL-5. Results showed clinically significant reductions on the MSNQ, PHQ-9 and PCL-5, with moderate effect sizes. On the MSNQ, participants endorsed decreased symptom severity on items associated with distractibility, slowed problem solving, requiring reminders, and difficulty multitasking. Conclusion The results indicate that BRAIN holds promise as a telehealth cognitive rehabilitation group intervention for reducing subjective cognitive concerns and symptoms of depression and PTSD.