The clinical significance of major depression following mild traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The authors assessed the association of major depression with behavioral outcome following mild traumatic brain injury.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with mild traumatic brain injury (N=170) were assessed for major depression. Those with major depression were compared with those without on self-report measures of psychosocial dysfunction, psychological distress, and postconcussive symptoms in addition to examiner-rated neurobehavioral disturbance.


RESULTS
Major depression was seen in 15.3% (N=26) of the subjects after traumatic brain injury, and these individuals showed subjective and objective evidence of poorer outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Major depression is associated with poor outcome across multiple domains. This study highlights the need for the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of major depression following mild traumatic brain injury.
Rapoport
Mark J
MJ
Department of Psychiatry and Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, University of Toronto, Ont M4N 3M5, Canada.
McCullagh
Scott
S
Streiner
David
D
Feinstein
Anthony
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires