Testing a new psychological treatment for adults after mild brain injury

INTERVENTION: Participants randomised to the intervention arm will receive five sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The sessions will be delivered individually, in‐person by a Registered Psychologist or Intern Psychologist (working under close supervision of a Registered Psychologist). Sessions will consist of 5x 1 hour sessions covering normalcy of human suffering, difference between goals and committed action, engaging in committed action in conjunction with values, separating self from thoughts, use of mindfulness, understanding the part of you that notices, contacting the present moment and responding to thoughts flexibly. The five session incorporating these techniques will be held once per week. Sessions will be conducted within a Psychology Clinic at the University of Massey, NZ. The total duration of the intervention will be 5 hours. Attendance at each session and rates of withdrawal from the intervention will be monitored. CONDITION: Injuries and Accidents ‐ Other injuries and accidents Mild traumatic brain injury; ; Mild traumatic brain injury Neurological ‐ Other neurological disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Total Disability Score of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)[Post‐Intervention (5 weeks)] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Anxiety sub‐scale score of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales ‐21 [post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Depression sub‐scale score of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales ‐21 [Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Qualitative interviews will explore participant’s experiences of the intervention, their understanding of the approach and its techniques, aspects of the intervention that were helpful or unhelpful and any changes they feel would be beneficial. [Following post‐intervention questionnaires (6‐7 weeks) ] Stress sub‐scale score of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales ‐21 [post‐intervention (5 weeks)] The numbers of participants meeting the eligibility criteria recruited per month will be recorded [Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Total score from the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire[Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Total score from the King‐Devick Test (Impairment of eye movement, attention and language)[Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Total score from the Rivermead Post‐Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire[Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Total score from the Valued Living Questionnaire (How consistently they have lived in accordance with values)[Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] Total time taken to meet the recruitment target for this feasibility study will be calculated, [Post‐intervention (5 weeks)] INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) clinical diagnosis of a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) 2) aged between 18 and 65 3) between 14 days and 6‐months post‐injury 4) score of >16 on the Rivermead Post‐concussion Questionnaire on screening 5) able to provide independent informed consent