Long-term fatigue in youth with acquired brain injuries: A 5-year follow-up of the CORE trial.
Hanna Lovise Sargénius, Ruth Elizabeth Hypher, Torun Gangaune Finnanger et al.
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In 30 seconds
This five-year follow-up of the CORE randomized controlled trial examined fatigue trajectories in adolescents aged 10–17 years at baseline with paediatric acquired brain injuries, assigned to paediatric Goal Management Training (pGMT) or the Brain Health Workshop (pBHW). Across five measurement timepoints, parent reports showed significant reductions in total fatigue (F (4,62.820) = 2.81, p = .033) and cognitive fatigue (F (4,59.622) = 4.89, p = .002). Fatigue outcomes did not differ significantly between intervention groups, and there was no significant group-by-time interaction. Parent-reported reliable change indicated clinically meaningful improvement in 67.6% of participants.
Key findings
- Parent-reported total fatigue decreased significantly over time (F (4,62.820) = 2.81, p = .033).
- Parent-reported cognitive fatigue decreased significantly over time (F (4,59.622) = 4.89, p = .002).
- Reliable Change Index analyses indicated clinically meaningful fatigue improvement in 67.6% of participants by parent report.
- No significant differences between pGMT and pBHW, or group-by-time interaction, were found.
Why it matters
Fatigue may remain an important rehabilitation concern years after paediatric acquired brain injury. The observed improvements, particularly in cognitive fatigue, and the proportion with clinically meaningful change support monitoring fatigue over time and considering it as a rehabilitation target. Because outcomes did not distinguish between the two interventions, the findings do not establish that one approach is superior.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports no significant between-group or group-by-time effects, so it does not establish that either intervention caused the improvements or that one was more effective.