--- title: "Psych News Alert: Multifamily Group Intervention Helps Vets with TBI and Their Caregivers" description: A multifamily group intervention for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves interpersonal functioning and symptomatic distress ... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_123867415-Jun-24-2025-09-21-17-2324-PM.jpg --- 6/11/13 12:00 AM # Multifamily Group Intervention Helps Vets with TBI and Their Caregivers ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/multifamily-group-intervention-helps.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/multifamily-group-intervention-helps.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/multifamily-group-intervention-helps.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/multifamily-group-intervention-helps.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/multifamily-group-intervention-helps.html) | [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_123867415-Jun-24-2025-09-21-16-5266-PM.jpg?width=200&height=155&name=shutterstock_123867415-Jun-24-2025-09-21-16-5266-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_123867415-Jun-24-2025-09-21-16-5266-PM.jpg) | | | --- | --- | A multifamily group intervention for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves interpersonal functioning and symptomatic distress among veterans, while helping to decrease the burden on caregivers. That was the finding from an initial evaluation published online today in *Psychiatric Services*. Veterans at two VA medical centers were prescreened by their providers for participation in an open trial of multifamily group treatment for TBI. Enrollment was limited to consenting veterans with a clinical diagnosis of TBI sustained during the Operation Enduring Freedom–Operation Iraqi Freedom era, a family member or partner consenting to participate, and a score ≥20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination. The nine-month trial consisted of individual family sessions, an educational workshop, and bimonthly multifamily problem-solving sessions. Interpersonal functioning and symptomatic distress among veterans and family burden, empowerment, and symptomatic distress among families were assessed before and after treatment. Researchers at the VA Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center in New York and other institutions found that treatment was associated with statistically significant decreased veteran anger expression and increased social support and occupational activity. Additionally, caregivers reported decreased burden and increased empowerment. “The results supported implementation of a randomized controlled trial, building in education at the provider and family level,” the researchers stated. The *Psychiatric Services* study is [here](http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=1658071). More information on TBI is found in American Psychiatric Publishing's *[Management of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury](http://www.appi.org/SearchCenter/Pages/SearchDetail.aspx?ItemId=62404)*. Also see *Psychiatric News* [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1484652). (Image:Linda Bucklin/shutterstock.com) [traumatic brain injury](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury), [family intervention](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/family-intervention) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sarkozy-Jun-24-2025-03-41-14-1902-PM.jpg?height=200&name=sarkozy-Jun-24-2025-03-41-14-1902-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/traumatic-brain-injury-hot-topic-at.html) [traumatic brain injury](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury), [veterans](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/veterans), [dementia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/dementia) ## [Traumatic Brain Injury a Hot Topic at Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Paris](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/traumatic-brain-injury-hot-topic-at.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/24/24 11:16 AM AAIC keynote speaker Nicolas Sarkozy/AAIC  One of the most-discussed topics of the Alzheimer's... 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[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/03/multifamily-therapy-appears-helpful-for.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brainstemFINAL_23875681-4.gif?height=200&name=brainstemFINAL_23875681-4.gif) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/06/primitive-brain-responds-first.html) [sleep](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/sleep), [traumatic brain injury](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury), [anesthesia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/anesthesia), [brain injury](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/brain-injury) ## [Primitive Brain Responds First](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/06/primitive-brain-responds-first.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 6/4/12 12:00 AM When people return to consciousness after receiving anesthesia, a more primitive area of their... 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