title: Patterns of Alcohol Use after Traumatic Brain Injury.
abstract: Alcohol misuse and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently co-occur. The negative consequences of this interaction are well documented, but the patterns of long-term post-injury alcohol consumption are less clear. This study examined patterns of alcohol use among 170 adults with a history of complicated mild to severe TBI. Participants were recruited from a Level 1 Trauma Center at the time of their injury and completed evaluations at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and 3-5 years post-injury. Pre-injury alcohol use was also assessed at the time of the 1-month assessment. A modified Quantity-Frequency Index of alcohol consumption was then calculated for each time point. The results revealed high levels of pre-injury alcohol consumption, followed by a reduction in consumption at 1-month post-injury. A significant increase in consumption was noted by 6 months post-injury, followed by more gradual increases in alcohol consumption at 1 year. Post-injury alcohol consumption was comparable to the general public at 6 months, 12 months, and 3-5 years post-injury. These results suggest that the first 6 months post-injury may be the critical window of opportunity for alcohol intervention.
authors.affiliation: 1 VA Puget Sound Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center , Seattle, Washington.|2 University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Pagulayan
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seattle, Washington.|4 University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington.|5 University of Washington Department of Biostatistics, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Temkin
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Machamer
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle, Washington.|3 University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seattle, Washington.|4 University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Sureyya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dikmen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol; traumatic brain injury