Building Resiliency in Dyads of Patients With an ANI Admitted to the Neuro-ICU and Their Informal Caregivers

The purpose of the present investigation is to test the efficacy of a brief (6 sessions) dyadic (patient and caregiver together) intervention to prevent chronic emotional distress in at risk dyads admitted to a Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit with an acute brain injury. Through this study, we seek to solve the unmet need of preventing chronic emotional distress in Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) dyads through a feasible, acceptable and credible program, and ideally improve the recovery trajectory and dyads' overall quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * English fluency and literacy * Patient with an informal caregiver available and willing to participate * Hospitalized with any ANI within 6 weeks (patient) OR informal caregiver of a patient currently admitted with any ANI * Patient and/or caregiver exhibit emotional distress on screening (using HADS D and/or HADS A scores \> 7) Exclusion Criteria: * Permanent cognitive impairment (including severe hearing impairment) or aphasia that makes participation impossible * Short form of Mini-Mental State Exam (SMMSE) score \