A larger scale multi-centre study with a longer follow-up period of assessment is required for the generalization of findings. The pilot study identifies points for consideration in a potential main study.

Method: Forty participants with TBI and 32 matched healthy participants completed a battery of tests assessing the three functions of interest. In addition, self-and proxy reports of pre-and post-injury behaviour, mood, and community integration were collected. Results:The TBI group performed significantly poorer than the comparison group on all tasks of emotion recognition, understanding intention and on one task of response selection. Ratings of current behaviour suggested significant changes in the TBI group relative to before the injury and showed significantly poorer community integration and interpersonal behaviour than the comparison group. Of the three functions considered, emotion recognition was associated with both post-injury behaviour and community integration and this association could not be fully explained by injury severity, time since injury or education. Conclusions:The current study confirmed earlier findings of associations between emotion recognition and post-TBI behaviour, providing partial evidence for models proposing emotion recognition as one of the pre-requisites for adequate social functioning.. May. Social behaviour and social cognition impairments 3

We conducted an exploratory RCT to examine feasibility and preliminary efficacy for a manual-based psychosocial group intervention aimed at improving epilepsy knowledge, self-management skills, and quality of life in young people with epilepsy. Method: Eighty-three participants (33:50 m/f; age range 12-17 years) were randomized to either the treatment or control group in seven tertiary paediatric neuroscience centres in the UK, using a wait-list control design. Participants were excluded if they reported suicidal ideation and/or scored above the cut off on mental health screening measures, or if they had a learning disability or other neurological disorder. The intervention consisted of six weekly 2-hour sessions using guided discussion, group exercises and role-plays facilitated by an epilepsy nurse and a clinical psychologist. Results: At three month follow up the treatment group (n = 40) was compared with a wait-list control group (n = 43) on a range of standardized measures. There was a significant increase in epilepsy knowledge in the treatment group (p = 0.02). Participants receiving the intervention were also significantly more confident in speaking to others about their epilepsy (p = 0.04). Quality of life measures did not show significant change. Participants reported the greatest value of attending the group was: Learning about their epilepsy (46%); Learning to cope with difficult feelings (29%); and Meeting others with epilepsy (22%). Caregiver and facilitator feedback was positive, and 92% of participants would recommend the group to others. Conclusion: This brief psychosocial group intervention was effective in increasing participants' knowledge of epilepsy and improved confidence in discussing their epilepsy with others. We discuss the qualitative feedback, feasibility, strengths and limitations of the PIE trial.