Browsing by Author "Ferguson, Robert J."

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    Methylphenidate and Memory and Attention Adaptation Training for persistent cognitive symptoms after traumatic brain injury: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
    (Nature, 2017) McDonald, Brenna C.; Flashman, Laura A.; Arciniegas, David B.; Ferguson, Robert J.; Xing, Li; Harezlak, Jaroslaw; Sprehn, Gwen C.; Hammond, Flora M.; Maerlender, Arthur C.; Kruck, Carrie L.; Gillock, Karen L.; Frey, Kim; Wall, Rachel N.; Saykin, Andrew J.; McAllister, Thomas W.; Department of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine
    The purpose of this multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two cognitive rehabilitation interventions (Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT) and Attention Builders Training (ABT)), with and without pharmacological enhancement (ie, with methylphenidate (MPH) or placebo), for treating persistent cognitive problems after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adults with a history of TBI at least 4 months before study enrollment with either objective cognitive deficits or subjective cognitive complaints were randomized to receive MPH or placebo and MAAT or ABT, yielding four treatment combinations: MAAT/MPH (N=17), ABT/MPH (N=19), MAAT/placebo (N=17), and ABT/placebo (N=18). Assessments were conducted pre-treatment (baseline) and after 6 weeks of treatment (post treatment). Outcome measures included scores on neuropsychological measures and subjective rating scales. Statistical analyses used linear regression models to predict post-treatment scores for each outcome variable by treatment type, adjusting for relevant covariates. Statistically significant (P<0.05) treatment-related improvements in cognitive functioning were found for word-list learning (MAAT/placebo>ABT/placebo), nonverbal learning (MAAT/MPH>MAAT/placebo and MAAT/MPH>ABT/MPH), and auditory working memory and divided attention (MAAT/MPH>ABT/MPH). These results suggest that combined treatment with metacognitive rehabilitation (MAAT) and pharmacotherapy (MPH) can improve aspects of attention, episodic and working memory, and executive functioning after TBI.
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    The National Cancer Institute clinical trials planning meeting to address gaps in observational and intervention trials for cancer-related cognitive impairment
    (Oxford University Press, 2025) Janelsins, Michelle C.; Van Dyk, Kathleen; Hartman, Sheri J.; Koll, Thuy T.; Cramer, Christina K.; Lesser, Glenn J.; Barton, Debra L.; Mustian, Karen M.; Wagner, Lynne I.; Ganz, Patricia A.; Cole, Peter D.; Bakos, Alexis; Root, James C.; Hardy, Kristina; Magnuson, Allison; Ferguson, Robert J.; McDonald, Brenna C.; Saykin, Andrew J.; Gonzalez, Brian D.; Wefel, Jeffrey S.; Morilak, David A.; Dahiya, Saurabh; Heijnen, Cobi J.; Conley, Yvette P.; Morgans, Alicia K.; Mabbott, Donald; Monje, Michelle; Rapp, Stephen R.; Gondi, Vinai; Bender, Catherine; Embry, Leanne; McCaskill Stevens, Worta; Hopkins, Judith O.; St. Germain, Diane; Dorsey, Susan G.; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
    Cancer-related cognitive impairment is a broad term encompassing subtle cognitive problems to more severe impairment. The severity of this impairment is influenced by host, disease, and treatment factors, and the impairment affects patients before, during, and following cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee (SxQoL SC) convened a clinical trial planning meeting to review the state of the science on cancer-related cognitive impairment and develop phase II/III intervention trials aimed at improving cognitive function in cancer survivors with non-central nervous system disease and longitudinal studies to understand the trajectory of cognitive impairment and contributing factors. Participants included experts in the field of cancer-related cognitive impairment, members of the SxQoL SC, patient advocates, representatives from all 7 NCI Community Oncology Research Program research bases, and the NCI. Presentations focused on the following topics: measurement, lessons learned from pediatric and geriatric oncology, biomarker and mechanism endpoints, longitudinal study designs, and pharmacological and behavioral intervention trials. Panel discussions provided guidance on priority cognitive assessments, considerations for remote assessments, inclusion of relevant biomarkers, and strategies for ensuring broad inclusion criteria. Three clinical trial planning meeting working groups (longitudinal studies as well as pharmacological and behavioral intervention trials) convened for 1 year to discuss and report on top priorities and to design studies. The meeting experts concluded that sufficient data exist to advance phase II/III trials using selected pharmacological and behavioral interventions for the treatment of cancer-related cognitive impairment in the non-central nervous system setting, with recommendations included herein.
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    Using Single-Case Experimental Design and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Evaluate the Treatment of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Clinical Practice
    (MDPI, 2023-09-20) Ferguson, Robert J.; Terhorst, Lauren; Gibbons, Benjamin; Posluszny, Donna M.; Chang, Hsuan; Bovbjerg, Dana H.; McDonald, Brenna C.; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
    Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) affects a large proportion of cancer survivors and has significant negative effects on survivor function and quality of life (QOL). Treatments for CRCI are being developed and evaluated. Memory and attention adaptation training (MAAT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) demonstrated to improve CRCI symptoms and QOL in previous research. The aim of this article is to describe a single-case experimental design (SCED) approach to evaluate interventions for CRCI in clinical practice with patient-reported outcome measures (PROs). We illustrate the use of contemporary SCED methods as a means of evaluating MAAT, or any CRCI treatment, once clinically deployed. With the anticipated growth of cancer survivorship and concurrent growth in the number of survivors with CRCI, the treatment implementation and evaluation methods described here can be one way to assess and continually improve CRCI rehabilitative services.