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In working memory training studies, individual trajectories are known to vary considerably between participants. A better understanding of how individual differences affect training outcomes is important because it might inform the development of more effective training interventions. This study explored how measures of working memory, intelligence, sustained attention, training motivation, mindset, psychological well-being, perceived stress, and sleep quality affect initial training performance and rate of change. A total of 217 upper secondary students completed 12 weeks of adaptive dual-n-back in a classroom setting. We analyzed their self-reported training data using latent growth curve modeling. We found that working memory and intelligence predicted both, initial training performance and rate of performance change. Sustained attention and sleep quality predicted initial performance, but not the rate of change. Furthermore, we observed that participants who completed the intervention scored significantly higher on measures of working memory and intelligence and reported lower levels of perceived stress and higher levels of sleep quality at baseline compared to dropouts. In general, our study supports the magnification account with higher ability individuals starting out at a higher performance level and showing a higher rate of performance change, and moreover, being more likely to adhere to the training protocol.

Aim: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index is a widely used measure of sleep quality. The validity and reliability of the Danish version of the instrument has not yet been established. The aim of this study is to establish the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and convergent validity of the Danish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in adolescents. Methods: Data were collected from 719 students from 17 different upper secondary schools. The sample consisted of 55% women, and the mean age of the sample was 17.87 (2.52) years. Data was collected on two occasions approximately 6 weeks apart using online surveys. Apart from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the students also completed the five-item World Health Organization Well-being Index and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. For internal consistency the Cronbach's alpha was calculated, for test-retest reliability the interclass correlation coefficient was computed, and for validity the Pearson's correlation was calculated. Results: The mean global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score among Danish adolescents was 5.86 (3.13). The internal consistency for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was satisfactory with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.72. Test-retest reliability was adequate with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.68. Finally, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index showed large positive correlation with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (0.55) and a large negative correlation with the five-item World Health Organization Well-being Index (–0.59). Conclusions: The Danish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index showed adequate reliability and validity among Danish adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Communication between people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and rehabilitation staff can be impacted by cognitive-communication disorders. Communication partner training (CPT) programs hold potential to improve communication between people with TBI and their communication partners. To tailor CPT programs to the rehabilitation environment, it is critical to understand the nature of communicative interactions for staff members. This study explores staff and managers’ experiences of communication with people with TBI in the rehabilitation setting. Method: Individual semistructured videoconference interviews were carried out with staff members (n = 22) and managers (n = 4) varying in terms of professions and length of work experience. Interviews were guided by a phenomenological approach to gain comprehensive knowledge of staff and managers’ lived experiences of communication with people with TBI. Results: Four themes with nine subthemes were generated: (a) cognitivecommunication disorders challenge interaction (communication is socially inappropriate, the diversity of presenting symptoms associated with TBI is demanding), (b) staff struggle in communication (there is a breakdown of communicative collaboration, communication increases staff’s workload, emotional well-being of staff is at risk), (c) communication context is crucial (tasks affect communication, extending the professional roles), and (d) staff want communication knowledge and skills (needs vary according to work experience, access to tailored strategies, and feedback). Conclusions: Staff and managers experienced communication with people with TBI as highly demanding. The socially inappropriate communication in people with TBI was perceived to disturb the collaborative aspects of communication and create negative emotional impacts for staff. Staff experiences varied according to discipline, work experience, rehabilitation tasks, and facility. Consequently, staff and managers expressed a need for specific communication strategies to help them overcome the communicative challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complaints of fatigue following acquired brain injury (ABI) are often associated with depression. However, the nature of this relationship is unclear; furthermore, research among young people with ABI is limited. The objective of this cross-sectional study was (1) to investigate levels of depression in young outpatients with ABI (15-30 years old) and (2) to determine how different dimensions of fatigue relate to depression. Five dimensions of fatigue were assessed with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and depression was assessed with the Major Depression Inventory (MDI). Mann-Whitney U-tests and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The ABI group (n = 105), on average 23.7 years old (SD = 4.2) and 31 months post-injury (SD = 61), had elevated levels of fatigue and depression compared to a convenience sample of 160 healthy controls, all p's < .001. In multivariate analyses, the predominantly mental dimensions of fatigue, General Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, and Reduced Motivation, were independently associated with MDI, all p's < .01, while the physical dimensions, Physical Fatigue and Reduced Activity, were not. Distinctions within the concept of fatigue may be important in relation to depression, and future research could benefit from adopting a multidimensional approach in the development of more targeted and effective treatments of fatigue and depression following ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess changes in family needs between the first and second years after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and to identify factors predicting unmet family needs. Design: Prospective Norwegian multicenter cohort study. Participants: The family members of 110 patients with sTBI were followed up at one year, and family members of 70 patients also at two years after trauma. Main measure: The Family Needs Questionnaire-Revised (FNQ-R). Results: Mean ratings of met family needs changed with a small decline between one year and two years post-injury on the FNQ-R subscales of Health Information and of Community Support Network. Proportions of needs met at one and two years ranged between 28% and 55%. Family needs most often met were from the Health Information subscale, and needs most often unmet were from the Emotional Support subscale. Caring for older patients, patients with more functional disabilities, female patients and being a spouse of a patient were associated with statistically significantly greater unmet family needs. Conclusion: Family members of survivors of traumatic brain injuries experience high levels of unmet needs, and rating of met needs tends to decline from one to two years post-injury. The identified predictors of unmet needs can contribute to guiding services following sTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]