VCU studying new treatment intervention program for traumatic brain injury patients

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is studying a new therapy that has the potential to change the way traumatic brain injury patients are treated.

One of the only programs of its kind in the country, the First Steps Acute Neurobehavioral and Cognitive Intervention (FANCI) program teaches patients with brain injuries about survival and treatment. 

FANCI is the focus of a randomized, controlled trial, which is being made possible by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health-NICHHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).

“A lack of information and limited resources contribute to the long-term challenges of living with brain injury,” said Janet Niemeier, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. ”Many people’s needs are not fully addressed by existing systems of care.  FANCI aims to meet these needs by serving as a resource for brain injury survivors, family members and other caregivers.”

Traumatic brain injury, also called acquired brain injury or head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. According to Niemeier, more than 1.4 million people a year in the United States begin confronting life with the medical, cognitive and psychosocial challenges resulting from traumatic brain injury.

FANCI is a neurobehavioral intervention for patients with traumatic brain injury during the acute phase of their recovery. There are 10 sessions and each addresses a common post-injury challenge. 

Topics include establishing orientation and awareness; improving attention and memory; managing strong and fluctuating emotions; staying positive; preparing for discharge and community re-entry; and knowing about community-based brain injury resources such as the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, clubhouses, camps, survivor support networks and family support.

Niemeier said the patients’ families may also participate.

“The patient really needs and is often dependent on the support of family members and cannot afford to alienate them,” said Niemeier. “The brain injury can result in behavioral changes that are upsetting, even frightening to family members. “  The FANCI program helps family members understand what the patient is going through and gives them some tools for providing care giving as it is truly needed.

“FANCI also helps the family member have more empathy for the patient and what he or she is experiencing,” Niemeier said.

William Walker, M.D., professor and vice chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and medical director of the Rehabilitation and Research Center, is co-principal investigator of the study.

VCU’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program is ranked among the top 25 programs in U.S. New and World Report. For more information, visit http://www.pmr.vcu.edu/default.aspx. 

The project described was supported by Award Number R01HD052922 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.