Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39956598›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Acceptance and commitment therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (ACTion-mTBI): a quasiexperimental feasibility study.

Josh Faulkner, Devin Prouty, Lucy Devlin, Damien Appleton, Maree Roche, Karen Below, John Moffat, Deborah Snell, Matt N Williams, Suzanne Barker-Collo and 1 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Concussion: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Josh FaulknerTe Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand josh.faulkner@vuw.ac.nz.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9555-4628
Devin ProutyProactive Rehabilitation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Lucy DevlinProactive Rehabilitation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Damien AppletonAppleton Psychology, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Maree RocheSchool of Management, Auckland, New Zealand.
Karen BelowEvolution Healthcare, Wellington, New Zealand.
John MoffatTe Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
Deborah SnellUniversity of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1664-0603
Matt N WilliamsMassey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0571-215X
Suzanne Barker-ColloAuckland University, Auckland, New Zealand.
Alice TheadomTBI Network, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0351-6216

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to determine the feasibility of recruiting, implementing and delivering an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) (ACTion-mTBI) within a multidisciplinary outpatient mTBI rehabilitation services. The study also aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation of group differences between ACTion-mTBI and an equivalent cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention on various outcome measures and psychological treatment targets.

designA two-arm quasiexperimental feasibility study.

settingFive mTBI rehabilitation clinics throughout New Zealand.

interventionPsychologists working in mTBI rehabilitation clinics throughout New Zealand were trained to deliver ACTion-mTBI or CBT. Eligible participants were assigned to either of these interventions based on the psychologist available at the clinic they were referred to. ACTion-mTBI is a five sessions intervention that incorporates all six components of the ACT model. The CBT intervention is an equivalent intervention and incorporating all four components of the CBT model. Both interventions are adapted for an mTBI context. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were related to the feasibility of ACTion-mTBI. This included recruitment, retention and treatment adherence of participants, study procedure and fidelity of treatment delivery. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: To explore group differences between ACTion-mTBI and CBT on functional disability, postconcussion symptoms, mental health, valued living and psychological flexibility.

resultsThe intervention proved feasible to implement with community-based mTBI rehabilitation services. Attrition rates were comparable between the two psychological interventions and fidelity to the treatments was high. At post-treatment, when covarying pretreatment scores, ACTion-mTBI had a significantly greater improvement in functional disability than CBT (moderate effect). ACTion-mTBI also had a significantly greater reduction in postconcussion symptoms, anxiety and stress. Promisingly, significant improvements in psychological flexibility was also found post-treatment. There were no group differences on depressive symptoms and valued living.

conclusionWe conclude that a full clinical trial of ACTion-mTBI for individuals with mTBI is feasible and warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN1262100059482.

Indexed as

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyBrain ConcussionCognitive Behavioral TherapyAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNew ZealandTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultBrain InjuriesFeasibility StudiesPsychosocial Intervention

Identifiers

PMID39956598
PMCPMC11831269

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.