Advances in neuropharmacological rehabilitation for brain dysfunction

Amantadine Therapy in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Objective:

To review literature on amantadine therapy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Data Sources:

MEDLINE (1966–March 2006), EMBASE (1974–March 2006), BIOSIS (1969–March 2006), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–March 2006) were searched to identify papers on the clinical outcomes of patients with TBI treated with amantadine. A bibliographic search was also performed.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Papers were excluded if they were not published in English, if they included patients less than 16 years old, or if they included patients in whom the effects of multiple medications, rather than amantadine alone, were studied. Reports were categorized according to the time of initiation of amantadine following the injury.

Data Synthesis:

Reports examining early initiation of amantadine suggest a possible benefit for treatment of decreased responsiveness and functional recovery. One report examining late initiation of amantadine failed to demonstrate benefit in the treatment of motor impairment, while 2 reports suggested possible improvement of functional recovery. Finally, reports examining late initiation of amantadine in the treatment of cognitive and behavioral therapy demonstrated possible benefit.

Conclusions:

Further investigation is needed before either early or late initiation of amantadine can be recommended for treatment of decreased responsiveness and functional recovery. However, while additional research is conducted, late initiation of amantadine can be considered an option for the treatment of cognitive and behavioral impairments in patients with TBI.

Traumatic brain injury in the elderly: diagnostic and treatment challenges

The purpose of this review is to introduce geriatric practitioners to issues and challenges presented in the elderly after onset of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Issues discussed include the magnitude of TBI in the elderly, mechanisms of onset, issues specific to both acute and rehabilitation care for the elderly with TBI, and specific physical and behavioral manifestations of TBI that may need to be addressed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. General guidelines are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of older individuals who have TBI, with specific clinical scenarios illustrating key points.

[Indications, efficacy and tolerance of drug therapy in view of improving recovery of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury]

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature about the indications, efficacy, limits and tolerance problems of drugs used with the aim of improving recovery of consciousness after a traumatic coma.

METHODS

Query using Medline, Embase, Neurosciences and Pascal databases. Thirty-two references were selected, including:articles proposing a synthesis of recent knowledge concerning neurotransmitters involved in vigilance, the pathophysiological mechanisms of impairment and the related pharmacology;clinical studies examining the efficacy of large categories of pharmacological agents (dopaminergic drugs, psychostimulants, tricyclic antidepressants and others) on vigilance and on alteration of consciousness following brain lesions.

RESULTS

The synthesis provides evidence about the theoretical actions and efficacy of the available pharmacological agents. The clinical studies are less convincing: indications and therapeutic choices are empirical. Studies report often single cases. Randomised studies are rare, often heterogeneous concerning the aetiology of the brain lesions. The evaluation scales are varied and too wide. In this context, amantadin, amphetamine, methylphenidate and bromocryptin showed some positive effects. Despite a pessimist general feeling, some cases of unexpected recovery as well as relapses during breaks in treatment were arguments in favour of the drug that was administered.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

This review suggests that drug treatments for awakening might become a useful and perhaps even indispensable, complement in case management. It is therefore urgent to design multicentre studies in order to set rational indications and to develop realistic therapeutic protocols.

Psychiatric aspects of traumatic brain injury

TBI is a complex heterogenous disease that can produce a variety of psychiatric disturbances, ranging from subtle deficits in cognition, mood, and behavior to severe disturbances that cause impairment in social, occupational, and interpersonal functioning. With improvement and sophistication in acute trauma care, a number of individuals are able to survive the trauma but are left with several psychiatric sequelae. It is important for psychiatrists to be aware of this entity because an increasing number of psychiatrists will be involved in the care of these patients. Treatment should be interdisciplinary and multifaceted, with the psychiatrist working in collaboration with the patient, caregiver, family, other physicians, and therapists. The goal of treatment should be to stabilize symptoms; maximize potential; minimize disability; and increase productivity socially, occupationally, and interpersonally.

Sleep Disturbances Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Sleep disorders commonly complicate the course following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Insomnia, excessive daytime somnolence and alteration of the sleep-wake schedule are common disturbances that affect the course of recovery and prognosis in TBI survivors. Few studies, however, have looked at the diagnosis and management of these disturbances in TBI. Early treatment of sleep disorders must be considered an integral part of the rehabilitation process. Recognition and management of comorbid medical or surgical diseases, assessment and treatment of associated psychiatric disorders, and awareness of other psychosocial stressors are mandatory steps in the management of sleep disturbances following TBI. In addition to pharmacologic therapy, nonpharmacologic approaches such as diet, environmental modification, and behavioral interventions are essential components in the management of sleep disturbances in TBI. Based on the evidence that sleep disturbances impact rehabilitation in TBI patients we support the need for ongoing studies in this area.

Positive outcomes in traumatic brain injury-vegetative state: patients treated with bromocriptine

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions and use of bromocriptine on outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury-vegetative state (TBI-VS).

DESIGN

Retrospective review of clinical cases.

SETTING

Free-standing rehabilitation hospital; Acute and extended rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Five consecutive TBI-VS patients, as well as 33 TBI-VS patients and 37 traumatic brain injury-minimally conscious state (TBI-MCS) patients reported in the literature.

INTERVENTIONS

Bromocriptine administration, systematic neuropsychologic testing, sensory stimulation, and traditional comprehensive rehabilitation with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Disability Rating Scale (DRS) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury and FIM instrument scores at 1 month and 12 months postinjury, Coma Recovery Scale, and Barry Rehabilitation Inpatient Screening of Cognition.

RESULTS

The 5 TBI-VS patients emerged from a VS into a MCS and regained functional status. Their recovery of physical and cognitive functioning, as rated by the DRS, was greater than previously reported in the literature for patients in a VS or MCS at 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury.

CONCLUSION

Bromocriptine administration, systematic neuropsychologic testing, sensory stimulation, a comprehensive rehabilitation program, or a combination of these treatments may enhance functional recovery in this TBI-VS patient group. Further systematic study to quantify the contribution of these variables and to reproduce this data in a larger patient population should be performed.

Cognitive and behavioural efficacy of amantadine in acute traumatic brain injury: an initial double-blind placebo-controlled study

The objective of the current study was to determine the efficacy of amantadine in improving cognitive and behavioural performance in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation sample. The design was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Subjects were 10 adult traumatic brain injury patients in an acute brain injury rehabilitation unit. Subjects received a 2-week trail of amantadine or placebo, followed by a 2-week washout, then a 2-week trail of the alternative (placebo or amantadine). Neuropsychological outcome measures included orientation, attention, executive function, memory, orientation, behaviour, and a composite variable. Results of repeated measures ANOVA and regression analysis of slope/change showed a main effect of time, but no significant difference for amantadine versus placebo. In conclusion, although patients generally improved, this initial exploratory study found no differences in rate of cognitive improvement between subjects given amantadine versus those given placebo. However, the small sample size, heterogeneous population, acute time course, and large number of dependent variables limit power and generalizability. Implications are discussed for further research to better answer questions regarding efficacy of amantadine post-TBI.

A conceptual model for treatment of externalizing behaviour in acquired brain injury

This paper describes a conceptual model for treatment of the externalizing behavioural sequelae to an acquired brain injury and discusses relevant research. Use of the model by practitioners should lead to sophisticated and minimally intrusive intervention. In the model, there are two different categories of approaches. The first category is remedial approaches. These interventions are typically used in the post-acute environment for teaching adaptive skills to replace aberrant behaviour patterns. Skills provided with such training allow the individual to self-manage difficult everyday situations effectively, without external control by others. The second category is moderating approaches, which can be used in the acute phase of ABI recovery for management of severe behavioural episodes that may be associated with conditions present at this time, such as agitation and confusion. Moderating approaches can also be used as a prelude to remedial approaches in the post-acute environment when problem behaviours occur at a high frequency or intensity and render the use of remedial approaches difficult.

The prevalence of agitation and brain injury in skilled nursing facilities: a survey

All skilled nursing facilities (SNF) in the state of Connecticut were surveyed to determine the number of residents with a primary diagnosis of brain injury, the incidence of agitation among these residents, and management strategies utilized for agitation in these residents, including consultation with brain injury specialists. One hundred and sixty-two, or 64%, of the SNF responded to the survey, and reported on 140 individuals with a primary diagnosis of brain injury. These individuals were residing in 39, or 24%, of the 162 facilities. Forty-five percent of these 39 facilities had brain-injured residents who met the definition of agitation presented in the survey. Management of agitation was equally distributed between environmental manipulation, formal behaviour care plans and medications. The availability of specialist consultation was variable and included physiatrists (38%), psychiatrists (67%), neurologists (41%), and psychologists (36%). This survey study defined the prevalence of brain-injured residents in Connecticut's SNF, and examined management strategies for agitation in this patient population.

The therapeutic potential of bromocriptine in neuropsychological rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain damage

1. Activation of neuropsychological rehabilitation by pharmacological agents is a promising therapeutic strategy. 2. Reports of single cases and case series claim improvement of akinetic mutism, non-fluent aphasia, apathy, attentional and other neuropsychiatric disturbances after treatment with bromocriptine, a D2 dopamine receptor agonist. 3. A critical review of published reports and own experiences discusses the results in the light of pharmacological and neurobiological considerations. 4. Dopaminergic stimulation after certain kinds of brain damage might influence neuronal recovery and/or substitute dopaminergical linked functions after destruction of the corresponding neurons. 5. Although controlled clinical studies are very difficult to design and such evidence is still lacking, preliminary recommendations are given with regard to differential indications, drug regime and evaluation criteria.

Ethics in brain injury rehabilitation: existential choices among western cultural beliefs

The following issues in the practice of brain injury rehabilitation are explored: (1) validity of support for efficacy based on experience in clinical practice, (2) validity of support for efficacy based on research, (3) consumer protection, (4) qualifications and regulation of individual providers, (5) regulation of programme development and marketing. Ethical responses to these issues from each of three cultural belief systems (humanism, science and self-interest) are examined from a metaphilosophical perspective based on contemporary cognitive psychology and on philosophies of social constructionism and existentialism.