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Mindful creativity matters: trajectories of reported functioning after severe traumatic brain injury as a function of mindful creativity in patients’ relatives: a multilevel analysis

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Abstract

Objective

The objective of the present investigation was to examine the association of mindful creativity with the trajectory of recovery (emotional, interpersonal, cognitive, and total functioning) of patients with severe TBI.

Methods

This was drawn from a subsample of an adult prospective cohort study on severe TBI in Switzerland; patients and their relatives were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months (patients N = 176, relatives N = 176). Predictor measures were assessed using Mindful Creativity Scale—short form and time (trajectory of functioning of the patient over time). Outcome measures were assessed using Patient Competency Rating Scale for Neuro-rehabilitation (PCRS-NR; measuring emotional, interpersonal, cognitive, and total functioning post-injury). All measures were assessed at each time point. Mixed linear models were run separately for ages >50 and ≤50 (i.e., bimodal distribution).

Results

Patients’ mindful creativity showed no significant association with patients’ functioning across time in any of the models. In all age groups, interpersonal functioning decreased across time (slope>50 = −4.66, p = .037; slope≤50 = −7.19, p = .007). Interestingly, in age group ≤50, interpersonal functioning increased when looking at relative mindful creativity by time (slope = 1.69, p = .005). Additionally, relatives mindful creativity was significantly associated with patients’ functioning in age group ≤50: (a) patients’ total functioning (slope = 0.18, p = .03) and (b) cognitive functioning (slope = 0.72, p = .020).

Conclusions

Relatives’ mindful creativity was significantly associated with patients’ functioning after severe TBI. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.

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Abbreviations

TBI:

Traumatic brain injury

SA:

Self-awareness

PFC:

Prefrontal cortex

ACC:

Anterior cingulate cortex

PPC:

Posterior parietal cortex

HAIS:

Abbreviated Injury Scale of the head region

MCS-s:

Mindful Creativity Scale—short version

LMS:

Langer Mindfulness Scale

PCRS-NR:

Patient Competency Rating Scale for Neuro-rehabilitation

AIC:

Akaike information criterion

DSM:

Statistical manual of mental disorders

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

PEBITA:

Patient-relevant endpoints after brain injury from traumatic accidents

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the PEBITA team for their passion and support (www.pebita.ch). Profound thanks to all the participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirland street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Chiara S. Haller, Colin M. Bosma & Ellen J. Langer

  2. Division of Public Psychiatry, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, 75 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Chiara S. Haller

  3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Kush Kapur

  4. Clinical Research Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 21 Autumn St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Kush Kapur

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Ross Zafonte

Authors
  1. Chiara S. Haller
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  2. Colin M. Bosma
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  4. Ross Zafonte
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  5. Ellen J. Langer
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Correspondence to Chiara S. Haller.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee of the respective cantons.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Haller, C.S., Bosma, C.M., Kapur, K. et al. Mindful creativity matters: trajectories of reported functioning after severe traumatic brain injury as a function of mindful creativity in patients’ relatives: a multilevel analysis. Qual Life Res 26, 893–902 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1416-1

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