Aphasia Therapy: Factors of Efficacy

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Aphasia
• Interventions: Other: communication treatment group (CTG); Other: CIAT-group; Other: Control group

• Registration Number: NCT02804412
• Lead Sponsor: University of Leipzig

Brief Summary

Constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) has proven effective in stroke patients. It has remained unclear, however, whether intensity of therapy or constraint is the relevant factor. This study will give an answer to this question to improve speech and language therapy.

Detailed Description

Although there is clear evidence that aphasia therapy is effective, questions remain as to the intensity of administered therapy, the preferred therapeutic approach and its initiation with regard to stroke onset. CIAT is a a high intense group therapy administered over 2 weeks. Additionally, patients have to communicate solely in spoken words or sentences (constraint). This study compares CIAT with an approach of the same intensity without constraints and a less intense house-typical therapeutic approach.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2005-03
• Primary Completion: 2013-01
• Study Completion: 2013-03
• Status Verified: 2016-06
• Study First Submitted: 2016-06-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-06-14
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-06-14
• Study First Posted: 2016-06-17
• Last Update Posted: 2016-06-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• first ever stroke
• suffering from aphasia

Exclusion Criteria

• severe cognitive or attentional impairments
• severe depression
• left-handedness
• severe dysarthria
• apraxia of speech
• severe deafness
• additional neurological diseases affecting speech (e.g. Parkinson's disease)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
communication treatment group (CTG)	communication treatment group (CTG)	Patients received aphasia group therapy without constraints
CIAT-group	CIAT-group	Patients received constraint-induced aphasia therapy.
Control group	Control group	Patients received a standard, house-typical aphasia therapy in single and group therapy sessions

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change of aphasia by Aachener Aphasia Test (AAT)	pretreatment and within 24 h post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change of Communication Activity Log (CAL)	pretreatment and within 24 h post intervention	The CAL is a two-part questionnaire rating the amount and the quality of daily communication on a six-point scale