This Phase I proof of principle pilot study of the Building Emotional Self-awareness Teletherapy (BEST) intervention will use a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, one-group pretest-posttest design with a double pretest and a 3-month follow-up in approximately 40 participants with mTBI (~20 civilians and ~20 service members). Study objectives are to explore the feasibility and early efficacy of BEST to improve psychological health outcomes in civilian and Service Member (SM) participants with mTBI who have alexithymia (poor emotional self-awareness) and emotion dysregulation. We anticipate BEST will have good feasibility and acceptability in both civilian and service member participants, and post-treatment assessments will show significant improvements in alexithymia, emotion regulation, resiliency, and affective symptoms.
To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a remotely delivered intervention for civilians and service members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who have difficulty recognizing and regulating their emotions. Post-treatment outcomes of interest include emotional self-awareness and regulation, resiliency, and affective symptoms.