Flow experience enhances the effectiveness of attentional training: A pilot randomized controlled trial of patients with attention deficits after traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Flow is an optimal psychological state when people engage in a training task, and it is a theory explaining the absorbed state. To investigate the additional effect of flow on attention deficits for chronic patients after traumatic brain injury. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to the flow group (n = 10) or the control group. Patients performed a video game task, one inducing flow (flow group) and the other not (control group) for 4 weeks, and they were assessed with the flow state scale for occupational tasks (FSSOT) regularly and neuropsychological tests at baseline, after intervention, and at 4 weeks after intervention (follow-up). Although both groups significantly improved their attentional function after intervention, patients in the flow group tended to show more improvement of attention. The effect size of the neuropsychological test of attention was positive, and its value was small to medium. There was a significant positive correlation between improvement of attention and the FSSOT score. Attention training with induction of the flow was associated with greater improvement of attention. The results of this study may provide provisional evidence of the effectiveness of rehabilitation considering the patient's psychological state.