Long-term mental fatigue after traumatic brain injury and impact on employment status.
OBJECTIVE
Long-term mental fatigue following traumatic brain injury is endorsed as one of the most distressing symptoms, interfering considerably with return to work and social life. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of long-term mental fatigue after traumatic brain injury and to evaluate its association with employment status.


METHODS
All patients (age range 19-65 years) diagnosed with traumatic brain injury irrespective of severity at Kungälv Hospital, Kungälv, Sweden, over a period of 5 years (n = 613) were invited by post to respond to questions about their injury, employment status and complete a questionnaire about mental fatigue, the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS).


RESULTS
A response rate of 38% was achieved. Among respondents, 39% scored above the MFS cut-off of 10.5. Higher MFS scores were associated with decreased employment status (p < 0.001). Rating on the MFS was higher for women, for those with a longer initial duration of acute post-traumatic brain injury symptoms, and for those who had previously experienced a traumatic brain injury. No association was found between mental fatigue and age, severity of injury, or time since injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term mental fatigue was frequent among people who had experienced a traumatic brain injury, and a higher rating on the MFS was associated with decreased employment status.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Samuel
S
Palm
Lars
L
Rönnbäck
Birgitta
B
Johansson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult