Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in many ways, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and falls. Most people know that TBI can cause cognitive impairment, which may be mild to severe. And, since the brain is the command center for the body it probably comes as no surprise that a brain injury can also cause a variety of physical problems, ranging from sensory disruptions to weakness and balance issues.
However, the emotional and psychological issues brain injury can trigger aren’t as well understood, and can be overlooked or misperceived when they occur in TBI victims.
More than Half of Brain Injury Patients Experience Major Depression
In a 2010 study, researchers assessed adults who had been hospitalized with mild to severe TBI one month, six months, eight months, 10 months, and 12 months post-injury. More than 53% of patients met the criteria for “major depressive disorder” (MDD) at least once during that year. When patients are tracked over a longer period, the incidence of depression increases to about 65%.
Depression may be triggered by physical changes in the brain, an emotional / psychological response to the injury and resulting limitations, one or both of those factors triggering a pre-existing tendency toward depression, or a combination of factors.
Major depression alone presents a significant challenge, but in brain injury victims it can complicate an already complex and difficult situation. First, it can be difficult to separate symptoms of depression from symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Both TBI and depression can cause sleep disturbances. Both may result in lethargy and difficulty concentrating. Feelings of worthlessness and loss of sense of purpose may be attributable to depression, or may be a transitional response to being unable to
Further, major depression can exacerbate some brain injury symptoms, such as aggression, anxiety, and reduced cognitive function. Brain injury patients suffering from depression even have higher medical costs than their non-depressed counterparts.
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Cognitive Training Can Reduce Depression after a Brain Injury
Last month, a new study revealed positive effects of cognitive training after a brain injury. Every depressed brain injury victim who participated in training experienced a lessening of depression, which was correlated with improved cognition and daily life functions. In fact, over time, these patients experienced positive physical changes in the brain.
Although the study is new and involved only a limited number of brain injury patients, the outcome is promising for TBI victims. Even study participants who has sustained their injuries years before the trial showed improvement.
If You Have Suffered a Brain Injury, Talk to a NY Personal Injury Lawyer
While discoveries such as the impact of cognitive therapy on depression and brain activity promise a better future for brain injury patients, the path is still challenging. A brain injury impacts every area of your life, from earning a living to maintaining relationships with others.
If you suffered a brain injury because someone else was negligent, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn more about your legal options. And a New York brain injury lawyer can help.
Whether you sustained a brain injury in a car or motorcycle accident, fell on someone else’s poorly-maintained property, or were injured on a job site, help is available. Just schedule a free consultation to get started.
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