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• Research
• Spinal Cord Injury Projects
• Traumatic Brain Injury Projects
  • Assessment & Intervention for Mild TBI
  • Can Eye Movements Predict Persistent Problems in Paediatric Mild TBI?
  • Cognitive and Neural Substrates of Socially Maladaptive Behaviours in Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injury
  • DECRA Trial (DECompressive CRAniectomy Trial)
  • Enhancing Neurogenesis Post -TBI
  • Fluid Resuscitation in TBI
  • Headstart: Multi-family Groups for Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Hypothermia in Childhood TBI (HiTBIC)
  • Improving the functional communication ability of adults with TBI
  • Long term consequences of childhood head injury - 15 year follow-up
  • Longitudinal Hippocampal Study
  • Measuring the Impact of TBI on People's Lives
  • Mobility Following Childhood TBI
  • New Treatments for Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Neural Basis of Communication Disorder in Children
  • Neurotrauma Tissue/Fluid Bank
  • Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Traumatic Brain Injury Study (NICE-TBI)
  • Preventing Neuronal Cell Death Following Brain Trauma
  • Prevention and Treatment of Social Problems Following TBI
  • Rehabilitation of Attention Following TBI
  • Role of Tissue Type Plasminogen Activator
  • TBI in Older Adults
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Treatment in Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Traumatic Hypoxia and Cerebral Inflammation
  • Virtual Reality and Upper Limb Function Following TBI in Children
• Targeted Initiatives
• Completed TBI and SCI Projects
• Program Grants

Rehabilitation of Attention Following TBI

Rehabilitation of Attention Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Model of Methylphenidate

Chief Investigator: Ms Catherine Willmott
Associate Investigator: Professor Jennie Ponsford
Lead Organisation: Monash University
VNI Funding: $37,979
Project Start Date: 01-Nov-06

Project Summary:
Impaired attention, concentration and slowed thinking are common difficulties experienced by individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and contribute significantly to an individual's disability. Research in the USA has suggested that Methylphenidate (Ritalin) may be effective in treating attentional disturbance in those with TBI. However, of the few studies conducted thus far, the patients recruited have been many years post-injury. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of Methylphenidate for the reduction of attention deficits following TBI, for patients that are actively participating in inpatient rehabilitation. Patients will be enlisted in a two week randomised, controlled treatment trial. In future, the outcomes of this pilot study can be used to guide the development of a multicentre, Phase III Clinical Trial in order to establish an evidence base for practice.

This project has been completed. Read the final summary.