Citation

Haagsma JA, Scholten AC, Andriessen TM, Vos PE, Van Beeck EF, Polinder S. J. Neurotrauma 2014; 32(11): 853-862.

Affiliation

Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Public Health, Rotterdam, Netherlands ; j.haagsma@erasmusmc.nl.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2013.3283

PMID

25320845

Abstract

The impact of disability following traumatic brain injury (TBI), assessed by functional measurement scales for TBI or by health-related quality of life (HRQL), may vary because of a number of factors, including presence of depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and impact of depression and PTSD on functional outcome and HRQL 6 and 12 months following mild TBI. We selected a sample of 1919 TBI patients who attended the Emergency Department (ED) followed by either hospital admission or discharge to the home environment. The sample received postal questionnaires 6 and 12 months after treatment at the ED. The questionnaires included items regarding socio-demographics, the SF-36, the PQoL, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES). Main findings: 797 (42%) TBI patients completed the 6 months follow-up survey. Depression and PTSD prevalence rates at both 6 and 12 month follow-up were 7% and 9% respectively. Living alone was an independent predictor of depression and/or PTSD at 6 and 12 month follow-up. Depression and PTSD were associated with a significantly decreased functional outcome (measured with Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended; GOSE) and HRQoL (measured with SF-36 and Perceived Quality of Life Scale; PQoL). We conclude that depression and/or PTSD are relatively common in our sample of TBI patients and that it is associated with a considerable decrease in functional outcome and HRQoL.

Language: en