The natural history of drinking and alcohol-related problems after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To describe changes in drinking from before traumatic brain injury (TBI) to 1 year after TBI.


METHODS
Inception cohort with 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Adults (N=197) hospitalized with a broad range of head injury severity.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.


RESULTS
Drinking and alcohol-related problems decreased substantially from preinjury to 1 year after TBI. However, about one quarter of the sample reported heavy drinking, significant problems, or both during the first year after TBI. Preinjury alcohol use and problems were highly predictive of heavy use and problems after TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Although drinking and alcohol-related problems decreased after TBI, there appears to be an ongoing need for prevention and intervention efforts. Screening for preinjury alcohol problems can be used to identify the vast majority of persons who will develop alcohol-related problems within 1 year after injury.
Bombardier
Charles H
CH
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. chb@u.washington.edu
Temkin
Nancy R
NR
Machamer
Joan
J
Dikmen
Sureyya S
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors