Group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy to Support Recovery After Acquired Brain Injury: A Clinical Development and Evaluation Study

September 25, 2026 updated by: Uppsala University

Difficulties in understanding and managing emotions may hinder recovery, rehabilitation, and participation in everyday life after acquired brain injury (ABI). Yet interventions targeting emotional adjustment after ABI remain limited.

The aim of the study is to investigate whether emotion-focused group therapy, based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), can support recovery after ABI. The intervention helps participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs related to their illness and changed life circumstances. Effects on emotional functioning, quality of life, activity, and participation will be assessed over time, alongside interviews exploring participants' experiences.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Surviving an acquired brain injury (ABI) often means having to learn to live with changes in abilities, roles, and relationships. For some, this adaptation itself becomes a barrier to continued recovery. Difficulties in understanding and managing emotions such as grief, fear and anger may affect how a person relates to their altered functional capacity, engages in rehabilitation, and resumes everyday activities and roles. Despite this, rehabilitation after ABI is primarily focused on physical and cognitive consequences, while targeted treatment options addressing emotional adjustment remain limited.

The aim of the study is to investigate whether emotion-focused group therapy can improve this aspect of recovery after ABI. The intervention is based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) and helps participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs that have emerged in response to the illness and changes in their life circumstances. The effects of the treatment on emotional functioning, quality of life, activity, and participation will be assessed over time and complemented by interviews exploring participants' experiences of the treatment and of life after stroke.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
110

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Sweden
      • Uppsala, Sweden
        • Recruiting
        • Uppsala University Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Person of working age, primarily 18-65 years.
  • Acquired brain injury.
  • At least three months since the time of injury.
  • Signs of significant psychological distress, such as mental health difficulties, vulnerability to mental health problems, or dysfunctional coping.
  • Sufficient cognitive functioning and proficiency in Swedish to participate in group-based talk therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current severe mental illness (e.g., psychosis or severe personality disorder).
  • Active substance use disorder.
  • Severe cognitive impairment that precludes participation in group-based talk therapy.
  • Other medical conditions that, based on clinical assessment, may make participation inappropriate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Arm 1

Treatment as Usual
Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Individually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support.
Experimental: Arm 2

Treatment as Usual + Group Therapy (EAET)
Behavioral: TAU + Group Therapy (EAET)

Behavioral: Treatment as usual • Individually tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation based on an assessment of each participant's rehabilitation needs. An individual rehabilitation plan is developed, and interventions are provided by relevant members of the rehabilitation team according to the participant's identified needs. Rehabilitation may include medical management, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and psychosocial support.

Behavioral: Group-based Emotional and Expression Therapy (EAET)

• 10-session manualized group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) designed to help participants identify, process, and express emotions and needs. Weekly group sessions are complemented by structured homework assignments. A follow-up session is provided three months after completion of the intervention. The intervention is delivered by a clinical psychologist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), post-treatment (10 weeks after baseline), 3-month follow-up (approximately 22 weeks after baseline), 12-month follow-up (approximately 62 weeks after baseline).

Evalutates three core components of emotion regulation: "Identifying emotions"; "Processing emotions", "Expressing emotions".
Baseline (pre-intervention), post-treatment (10 weeks after baseline), 3-month follow-up (approximately 22 weeks after baseline), 12-month follow-up (approximately 62 weeks after baseline).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

QOLIBRI consists of 37 items in six scales. Health-related quality of life is assessed in the areas of "Cognition," "Self," "Daily Life and Autonomy," and "Social Relationships," and feeling bothered by "Emotions," and "Physical Problems."
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Six item scale that ask about health related quality of life in six dimensions: "Physical condition, "Cognition", "Emotions", "Ability to carry out daily activities", "Personal and social life" and "Current situation and future prospects"
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Short Form 36 (SF-36)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

The SF-36 measures eight scales: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH).
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-64, with a higher score indicates worse symptoms.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-28, where higher scores indicate severity of insomnia.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-15, where higher scores indicate severity of anxiety experienced.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-27, where higher scores indicate severity of depression experienced.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-30, where higher scores indicate severity and burden of common physical symptoms.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Fear Avoidance Behavior after Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire (FAB-TBI)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-48, where higher score indicates higher avoidance.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Behavioral Responses to Illness Questionnaire (BRIQ)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Evalutates behavioral response to illness on a four factor subscale: "All-or-Nothing Behavior", "Limiting Behavior", "Emotional Support Seeking" and "Practical Support Seeking".
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-40, where higher score indicates greater risk of problematic alcohol use.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.
Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT)
Time Frame: Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Score of 0-44, where higher score indicates greater risk of problematic drug use.
Pre-intervention, after 10 weeks (following completion of the intervention), after 22 weeks, and after 62 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Uppsala University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Region Uppsala Public Health and Care

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Anna Nordström, M.D., Uppsala University
  • Study Chair: Peter Nordström, Professor, Uppsala University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • EAET after ABI

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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