Does speed of processing training improve everyday life functional activity in traumatic brain injury: A pilot randomized controlled trial

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial evaluated Speed of Processing Training (SOPT) efficacy for improving everyday functioning in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thirty-four participants with moderate to severe TBI completed either SOPT or placebo control treatment across 10 sessions over five weeks. Assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and six-month follow-up measured Timed Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) performance along with self-reported quality of life, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms. Results revealed no significant differences between the SOPT and placebo groups. Repeated measures ANOVA showed non-significant interactions between time and group for both TIADL scores and self-reported outcomes. Additional post-hoc analyses found no significant differences in baseline variables between participants who improved on the TIADL and those who did not. Despite SOPT’s established benefits for processing speed, this study suggests its effects may not transfer to functional outcomes in individuals with moderate to severe TBI. The findings indicate that future research should explore integrated cognitive rehabilitation approaches that better promote generalization to daily life activities and meaningful functional improvements for persons with TBI. The clinical trial was registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (protocol ID: NCT02020564).Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02020564..