Research Aids Veterans, Caregivers
Life can change in a second when stroke or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs – for both patients and their caregivers.
That’s why Katherine Judge, associate professor of psychology, is partnering with the Veterans Health Administration to implement and test a non-pharmacological, psychosocial intervention for veterans with stroke or TBI and their family caregivers.
TBI, a blunt force trauma to the head that causes severe mental and physical impairment including dementia-like symptoms, affects two to four million people annually and is the leading cause of death and disability in war zones. Stroke affects a huge population as well. And while stroke is generally thought of as an older person’s affliction, TBI often affects younger people who, while trying to recuperate, must also deal with employment, school and family issues.
While the effects of both stroke and TBI may be permanent, Dr. Judge’s novel therapeutic approach is designed to greatly improve a wide range of outcomes as well as quality of life. Her research seeks to address common psychological symptoms associated with patients and their caregivers, including embarrassment, isolation and depression, while also providing everyday, counseling-based tools and exercises that can assist in improving cognitive function and memory.
“A key factor in the overall medical health of TBI and stroke patients is the community supporting them,” Dr. Judge says. “By addressing the needs of both the patient and their caregiver, we can improve their overall functioning, decrease care-related psychological side effects and strengthen the overall quality of life for patients and caregivers.”
Dr. Judge is collaborating with Virginia Daggett, a nurse researcher, at the VA Center for Applied Systems Engineering and Research & Development at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. The four-year project, called ANSWERS-VA, is funded through the VA’s Health Services Research and Development Nursing Research Initiative (grant #NRI 12-415).
To date, 88 subjects have been enrolled — veterans who are being treated for TBI or stroke at VA medical centers in Indianapolis and Houston and their family caregivers.
Helping to make this random-controlled trial unique is that all health care is delivered via telephone by intervention specialists — highly trained graduate students from disciplines such as psychology, social work and speech-language pathology.
For 60 to 90 minutes per weekly (or less often) conference call, patients and caregivers are provided educational information on everything from effective communication and being cognitively engaged to maintaining hobbies and dealing with emotions.
The initiative is based on a long-term rehabilitation research initiative, called Acquiring New Skills While Enhancing Remaining Strengths (ANSWERS), which Dr. Judge initially developed and implemented with dementia patients and their family caregivers in the Northeast Ohio area.
There are many similarities between the symptoms experienced by dementia patients and those who have suffered stroke or TBI and similar side effects for their respective caregivers as well,” she notes. “By utilizing therapies that have been proven to work with dementia patients, we ultimately hope to create best practice models that can be utilized as part of overall treatment for TBI and stroke.”
ANSWERS-VA is based on the strengths of patients and their care partners as they learn new knowledge and strategies to manage care, accept new roles and increase leisure activities.
“We all have strengths,” notes Dr. Judge. “This intervention helps veterans and caregivers find their strengths after a debilitating event and gives them a core set of techniques and skills to cope.”
Visit csuohio.edu/research to read our new magazine, @CSUresearch, and learn more about research and scholarship at Cleveland State.
Also in This Issue...
A Reason to Celebrate
For the third consecutive year, generous donors helped Radiance: CSU Realizing the Promise achieve more than $1 million for scholarships.
Be Amazing Symposium is Amazing
The Second Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium drew some 800 women (and a few men) for a day of inspirational, thought-provoking talks; shared meals and conversations; and renewal of drive and spirit.
Making it Happen
CSU alumni played vital roles in the 2016 RNC — from city leadership to safety, free speech, and visitor experience — showcasing Cleveland’s growth, unity, and success.
A Message from the President
President Ronald M. Berkman highlights CSU’s record freshman class, fundraising success, improved retention, U.S. News recognition, and his advocacy for increased state support for higher education.
CSU Among Best in the Nation
Cleveland State University again is among the best colleges and universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
CSU helps Cleveland shine during RNC
CSU hosted RNC events — from online classes to TEDx — boosting national media coverage and spotlighting Cleveland’s resurgence.
CSU’s man in Rio
Wally Morton, who coached CSU swimming and diving for 39 seasons, was in Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics along with his wife, Carol, a faculty member at Baldwin Wallace University. It was their 10th Olympic adventure.
Lights, Cameras, Cleveland State
From Captain America and the Avengers to Ralphie, the Old Man and a pitcher known as Wild Thing — Cleveland has long been a fertile filming ground for the motion picture industry.
O Hail the Green and White
Homecoming 2016 brought hundreds of alumni back to campus to celebrate CSU.
On the road again
Visiting Cleveland-area landmarks, hosting fun-filled family outings, touring the world, connecting with grads across the country — the CSU Alumni Association’s calendar of events has something for everyone.
Student Success Initiatives Drive CSU Growth and Recognition
In an era where barely half of the nation’s college students obtain a degree within six years, Cleveland State is all about student success — and innovative ways to help them graduate on time and with as little debt as possible.
The Recipe for Student Success
First-gen and transfer learners thrive at CSU through TRIO, coaching, tutoring, and service pathways, proving engaged support leads to success.
Face-off! Lacrosse comes to CSU
The newest addition to the Department of Athletics is men’s lacrosse. The sport is the fastest growing in the nation among high school student-athletes, and CSU head coach Dylan Sheridan used the 2015-16 year to build his program.
73 New Members Boost Expertise of Strong Faculty
This fall, CSU welcomed 73 new faculty members, many of whom come from flagship Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions. The group includes 47 tenure/tenure track faculty – by far the largest number to join Cleveland State.
Deans bring expertise to colleges
CSU welcomed three expert deans: Dr. Roland Anglin in Urban Affairs, Dr. Timothy Gaspar in Nursing, and former Ohio AG Lee Fisher at Cleveland–Marshall Law — each bringing deep experience to elevate their respective colleges.
Corporate chapters engage alumni
The Alumni Association welcomes American Greetings as its third corporate chapter. It joins the Forest City Enterprises chapter, which just celebrated its first anniversary, and Sherwin-Williams, which established a corporate chapter in 2014.
Stay Engaged!
Keep up to date with the CSU Alumni Association by following us online. Our website, csualumni.com, is your starting point for all things alumni.
The 26th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards honors 10 graduates
With the basketball court at Wolstein Center transformed into a sparkling ballroom, nearly 500 alumni and friends gathered to pay tribute to this year’s class of Distinguished Alumni.
Sullivan-Deckard Foster Program Lauded
Cleveland State was one of just nine colleges and universities nationwide honored by University Business magazine with a 2016 Models of Excellence award, which recognizes innovative approaches to encouraging and nurturing student success.
Class Notes – Fall 2016
A Reason to Celebrate
For the third consecutive year, generous donors helped Radiance: CSU Realizing the Promise achieve more than $1 million for scholarships.
Making it Happen
CSU alumni played vital roles in the 2016 RNC — from city leadership to safety, free speech, and visitor experience — showcasing Cleveland’s growth, unity, and success.
CSU Among Best in the Nation
Cleveland State University again is among the best colleges and universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
CSU’s man in Rio
Wally Morton, who coached CSU swimming and diving for 39 seasons, was in Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics along with his wife, Carol, a faculty member at Baldwin Wallace University. It was their 10th Olympic adventure.
O Hail the Green and White
Homecoming 2016 brought hundreds of alumni back to campus to celebrate CSU.
Student Success Initiatives Drive CSU Growth and Recognition
In an era where barely half of the nation’s college students obtain a degree within six years, Cleveland State is all about student success — and innovative ways to help them graduate on time and with as little debt as possible.
Face-off! Lacrosse comes to CSU
The newest addition to the Department of Athletics is men’s lacrosse. The sport is the fastest growing in the nation among high school student-athletes, and CSU head coach Dylan Sheridan used the 2015-16 year to build his program.
Deans bring expertise to colleges
CSU welcomed three expert deans: Dr. Roland Anglin in Urban Affairs, Dr. Timothy Gaspar in Nursing, and former Ohio AG Lee Fisher at Cleveland–Marshall Law — each bringing deep experience to elevate their respective colleges.
Stay Engaged!
Keep up to date with the CSU Alumni Association by following us online. Our website, csualumni.com, is your starting point for all things alumni.
Sullivan-Deckard Foster Program Lauded
Cleveland State was one of just nine colleges and universities nationwide honored by University Business magazine with a 2016 Models of Excellence award, which recognizes innovative approaches to encouraging and nurturing student success.
Be Amazing Symposium is Amazing
The Second Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium drew some 800 women (and a few men) for a day of inspirational, thought-provoking talks; shared meals and conversations; and renewal of drive and spirit.
A Message from the President
President Ronald M. Berkman highlights CSU’s record freshman class, fundraising success, improved retention, U.S. News recognition, and his advocacy for increased state support for higher education.
CSU helps Cleveland shine during RNC
CSU hosted RNC events — from online classes to TEDx — boosting national media coverage and spotlighting Cleveland’s resurgence.
Lights, Cameras, Cleveland State
From Captain America and the Avengers to Ralphie, the Old Man and a pitcher known as Wild Thing — Cleveland has long been a fertile filming ground for the motion picture industry.
On the road again
Visiting Cleveland-area landmarks, hosting fun-filled family outings, touring the world, connecting with grads across the country — the CSU Alumni Association’s calendar of events has something for everyone.
The Recipe for Student Success
First-gen and transfer learners thrive at CSU through TRIO, coaching, tutoring, and service pathways, proving engaged support leads to success.
73 New Members Boost Expertise of Strong Faculty
This fall, CSU welcomed 73 new faculty members, many of whom come from flagship Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions. The group includes 47 tenure/tenure track faculty – by far the largest number to join Cleveland State.
Corporate chapters engage alumni
The Alumni Association welcomes American Greetings as its third corporate chapter. It joins the Forest City Enterprises chapter, which just celebrated its first anniversary, and Sherwin-Williams, which established a corporate chapter in 2014.
The 26th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards honors 10 graduates
With the basketball court at Wolstein Center transformed into a sparkling ballroom, nearly 500 alumni and friends gathered to pay tribute to this year’s class of Distinguished Alumni.
Class Notes – Fall 2016
A Reason to Celebrate
For the third consecutive year, generous donors helped Radiance: CSU Realizing the Promise achieve more than $1 million for scholarships.
A Message from the President
President Ronald M. Berkman highlights CSU’s record freshman class, fundraising success, improved retention, U.S. News recognition, and his advocacy for increased state support for higher education.
CSU’s man in Rio
Wally Morton, who coached CSU swimming and diving for 39 seasons, was in Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics along with his wife, Carol, a faculty member at Baldwin Wallace University. It was their 10th Olympic adventure.
On the road again
Visiting Cleveland-area landmarks, hosting fun-filled family outings, touring the world, connecting with grads across the country — the CSU Alumni Association’s calendar of events has something for everyone.
Face-off! Lacrosse comes to CSU
The newest addition to the Department of Athletics is men’s lacrosse. The sport is the fastest growing in the nation among high school student-athletes, and CSU head coach Dylan Sheridan used the 2015-16 year to build his program.
Corporate chapters engage alumni
The Alumni Association welcomes American Greetings as its third corporate chapter. It joins the Forest City Enterprises chapter, which just celebrated its first anniversary, and Sherwin-Williams, which established a corporate chapter in 2014.
Sullivan-Deckard Foster Program Lauded
Cleveland State was one of just nine colleges and universities nationwide honored by University Business magazine with a 2016 Models of Excellence award, which recognizes innovative approaches to encouraging and nurturing student success.
Be Amazing Symposium is Amazing
The Second Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium drew some 800 women (and a few men) for a day of inspirational, thought-provoking talks; shared meals and conversations; and renewal of drive and spirit.
CSU Among Best in the Nation
Cleveland State University again is among the best colleges and universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Lights, Cameras, Cleveland State
From Captain America and the Avengers to Ralphie, the Old Man and a pitcher known as Wild Thing — Cleveland has long been a fertile filming ground for the motion picture industry.
Student Success Initiatives Drive CSU Growth and Recognition
In an era where barely half of the nation’s college students obtain a degree within six years, Cleveland State is all about student success — and innovative ways to help them graduate on time and with as little debt as possible.
73 New Members Boost Expertise of Strong Faculty
This fall, CSU welcomed 73 new faculty members, many of whom come from flagship Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions. The group includes 47 tenure/tenure track faculty – by far the largest number to join Cleveland State.
Stay Engaged!
Keep up to date with the CSU Alumni Association by following us online. Our website, csualumni.com, is your starting point for all things alumni.
Class Notes – Fall 2016
Making it Happen
CSU alumni played vital roles in the 2016 RNC — from city leadership to safety, free speech, and visitor experience — showcasing Cleveland’s growth, unity, and success.
CSU helps Cleveland shine during RNC
CSU hosted RNC events — from online classes to TEDx — boosting national media coverage and spotlighting Cleveland’s resurgence.
O Hail the Green and White
Homecoming 2016 brought hundreds of alumni back to campus to celebrate CSU.
The Recipe for Student Success
First-gen and transfer learners thrive at CSU through TRIO, coaching, tutoring, and service pathways, proving engaged support leads to success.
Deans bring expertise to colleges
CSU welcomed three expert deans: Dr. Roland Anglin in Urban Affairs, Dr. Timothy Gaspar in Nursing, and former Ohio AG Lee Fisher at Cleveland–Marshall Law — each bringing deep experience to elevate their respective colleges.
The 26th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards honors 10 graduates
With the basketball court at Wolstein Center transformed into a sparkling ballroom, nearly 500 alumni and friends gathered to pay tribute to this year’s class of Distinguished Alumni.