A Biofeedback Intervention for the Prevention of Challenging Behaviour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Biofeedback Intervention for the Prevention of Challenging Behaviour in People with Acquired Brain Injury
IRAS ID
223574
Contact name
Jonathan Evans
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention for the prevention of challenging behaviour in acquired brain injury. Verbal or physical aggression occurs more commonly in people with a brain injury compared to those without, and can significantly affect independence in everyday life (Ylvisaker et al, 2007). Interventions to treat challenging behaviour have included medication, psychological strategies and environmental changes (Ylvisaker et al,2007). Biofeedback on physical recordings (e.g. brain wave patterns) has also been explored. Other physical recordings (e.g. heart rate, movement, sweating) can now be collected through wearable devices, opening avenues for collecting information predictive of challenging behaviour episodes. Previous research in an inpatient rehabilitation unit has been able to accurately predict episodes of challenging behaviour 2-4 hours before they occur, using physiological recordings (O'Neill et al, in press). Therefore, this opens avenues for trialling an intervention during this 2-4 hours, with the aim of preventing the predicted event from occurring.
The intervention will involve adults with aquired brain injury that are asked to wear a standard commercially available physiological monitoring device (electronic watch), which will prompt patients to use an anxiety management strategy when challenging behaviour is predicted.
The study will last approximately 7 months, allowing time for a baseline phase, an intervention phase, and a return to baseline phase. This will also allow for time for identification and recruitment and for random staggering of participants' intervention start date to account for environmental changes that may bias the results.REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
17/SS/0119
Date of REC Opinion
8 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion