Psychotherapeutic Intervention for Adults With Acquired Brain Injury: A Case Study Using BackUp.
Cecilie Marie S Thøgersen, Chalotte Glintborg, Tia G B Hansen and 1 others
PMID 36188993WHAT IT FOUND
One man with acquired brain injury showed increased depression and anxiety scores after psychological therapy, then returned to baseline at nine months.
He and his team reported better self-awareness and reduced conflicts, but this single case cannot prove the therapy works.
Key findings
01Depression scores worsened immediately after therapy (from non-depressed to mild) before returning to non-depressed levels at nine-month follow-up.
02The participant reported gaining insight into his limitations, which helped reduce conflicts with the rehabilitation team and increase independence.
03Self-compassion scores remained stable throughout the intervention and follow-up period.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study involves only one participant, so findings cannot be generalized to other patients. The participant received multiple concurrent interventions (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social support, and group therapy) alongside the psychological intervention, making it impossible to isolate the effect of the BackUp program alone. The primary outcome measures showed no clear positive effect, and the negative changes in depression and quality of life scores post-intervention are not fully explained by the data. The daily progress questionnaire was not validated and showed no significant patterns.
Declared interests
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that worsening depression or anxiety scores during psychological rehabilitation indicate treatment failure. In this case, the authors interpret the temporary increase in symptoms as a natural grief reaction to gaining insight, which eventually resolved. However, this is a single case and should not be used to predict how other patients will respond to therapy.