Several members of the Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry collaborated on an article focusing on attention deficits related to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The article, "Traumatic brain injury-related attention deficits: Treatment outcomes with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse)," appears in an issue of the June 2014 publication Brain Injury. Brain Injury is the official research journal of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA).
Psychiatry faculty members Michael Tramontana, Ron Cowan, David Zald, and Jonathan Prokop contributed to the article as well as Oscar Guillamondegui from Vanderbilt's Department of Surgery (Trauma). Zald has an additional appointment in the Department of Psychology.
According to the abstract, attention deficits are often among the most persistent and debilitating impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study examined the effects of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) in treating attention deficits due to moderate-to-severe TBI. It was the first study of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate with this population and, in fact, was the first controlled trial in this area examining a stimulant medication option other than methylphenidate.
The authors ad their research teams conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. A total of 22 rigorously selected cases were enrolled, 13 of whom completed the trial. Participants were assessed on a broad range of neuropsychological and behavioral measures at baseline, 6-weeks and at 12-weeks. Upon completion of the study, positive treatment effects were found involving selective measures of sustained attention, working memory, response speed stability and endurance and in aspects of executive functioning.
More information about Brain Injury may be found by visiting the publication website.
