A mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, can increase one’s chances of developing mental health issues. This is according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California in San Diego, the results of which were published in JAMA Psychiatry. Nevada residents should know that the chance for developing post-traumatic stress disorder and a major depressive disorder is especially high.
Researchers analyzed the prevalence of PTSD and MDD, as well as their risk factors, among 1,155 patients who went to the emergency department with mTBIs. At the same time, they analyzed 230 patients with injuries resulting from non-head orthopedic trauma and contrasted the findings between the two groups. All the patients were 17 or older and were treated at one of 11 U.S. hospitals with level 1 trauma centers.
Twenty percent of those in the mTBI group experienced either PTSD or MDD three months after their injury, compared to 8.7 percent among the second group. The rate changed slightly six months after the injury at 21.2 percent versus 12.1 percent.
Risk factors for PTSD and MDD include lower education and a self-reported psychiatric history. These increased the chances by an adjusted odds ratio of .89 and 3.57 per year, respectively. Researchers recommend continual monitoring for months afterwards in order to lead mTBI patients toward full recovery.
Those who incur a brain injury at work, in a car accident or as a result of assault may be eligible for compensation. A successful personal injury claim might cover things like medical expenses, rehabilitative care, lost wages, a diminished capacity to earn a living, pain and suffering and emotional trauma. However, the other side will likely have a lawyer or a team of lawyers arguing against the claim, so victims may want to consider getting legal counsel for themselves.
