Building Resiliency in Patients Admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and Their Caregivers

Recovering Together: Building Resiliency in Dyads of Patients Admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Their Caregivers

The investigators will compare a dyadic intervention (Recovering Together) with an attention placebo educational control in dyads of patients with acute neurological illnesses and their caregivers at risk for chronic emotional distress. The primary aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, credibility, and satisfaction with Recovering Together. The second aim is to show proof of concept for sustained improvement in emotional distress, post traumatic stress (PTS), resiliency and interpersonal communication outcomes in patients and caregivers.

The investigators aim to improve the care of patients (pts) admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their family caregivers (cgs) by conducting a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT; N=80 dyads; 60 completers) of the dyadic resiliency program ("Recovering Together") to prevent chronic emotional distress in both pts and their cgs. Eligible dyads include adult, English speaking pts with acute neurological injury (ANI) admitted to the NICU, cleared medically and cognitively for participation by the nursing team, and their primary cgs. Dyads who are randomly assigned to "Recovering Together" will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person at hospitalization and 4 through live video after discharge, to reduce burden and facilitate access to care) led by a clinical psychologist. Dyads who are randomly assigned to the attention placebo educational control condition will receive 6 manualized sessions (2 in person and 4 through live video with a clinical psychologist), modeled after the Recovering Together program that will control for the dose of the intervention and support from therapist. Dyads will complete assessment surveys before, after the intervention and 3 months later. Clinical data on demographics, diagnosis, ANI severity, and any medical complications will be extracted from electronic health records.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients, 18 years or older
• English fluency and literacy
• Access to high speed internet for video sessions
• Patient with an informal cg (family or friend who provides unpaid care) available and willing to participate
• Hospitalized with an acute brain injury within 1-2 days when first approached, OR the primary caregiver of a patient currently admitted with an acute brain injury
• Either patient or caregiver within the dyads screens in for depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD

Exclusion Criteria:

• Permanent or severe cognitive impairment severe enough to impede participation - This will be determined by nurses through an assessment conducted as part of usual care (MMSE).
• Dyads where the patient is anticipated to die or to never be able to participate due to medical sequelae.