title: Development of depressive symptoms during early community reintegration after traumatic brain injury.
abstract: The early onset of depression following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes; however, the direction of this relationship is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between progress in resuming preinjury lifestyle (transition events), change in perceived functioning and level of depressive symptoms at discharge and 3-months postdischarge. As part of a prospective longitudinal study of brain injury outcomes, 96 consecutively discharged patients with TBI completed measures of transition events (Sentinel Events Questionnaire) and perceived functioning (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 Ability and Adjustment indices) at discharge and 3-months follow-up. Level of depressive symptoms was assessed at discharge and 3-months follow-up using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21. After controlling for age and discharge depressive symptoms, change in perceived functioning was found to mediate the relationship between total transition events and depressive symptoms at 3-months postdischarge (Î² reduced from .21 to .14), with a significant indirect effect observed. The present findings indicate that lack of progress in resuming preinjury lifestyle contributes to postdischarge depressive symptoms through an influence on perceived functioning, thus providing an improved conceptualization of reactive depression in the context of brain injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Australia. sworth@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ownsworth
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Petrea
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornwell
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nalder
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult