In a previous blog we discussed the link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that a large number of TBI patients experience major episodes of depression. Many war veterans suffer from TBI and never make a full return to a normal life.
Researchers in the study looked at 559 adults with mild to severe TBI. Their results showed that in the first year after TBI, 297 patients suffered from a major depressive disorder (MDD). The TBI patients studied were mostly male who suffered from head trauma in car crashes. Researchers noted that TBI patients have a risk of MDD throughout the first year after injury. In addition, the risk of MDD lasts beyond that one year.
A TBI patient with MDD is at a high risk of suicide. Moreover, patients who experience MDD in addition to TBI will have significantly higher medical expenses for their treatment. Doctors do not know of any reliable predictors of MDD in TBI patients. People who suffer from MDD will experience poor cognitive function, aggression, anxiety and functional disability.
If someone else’s carelessness is responsible for a loved one’s TBI, a personal injury attorney can help you recover financial compensation to deal with the medical costs.
Is someone responsible for a head injury to you or a loved one?