Predictors of Psychiatric Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictors of posttraumatic brain injury psychiatric disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional design with stratified random sampling of groups of patients on average 1 to 5 years postinjury. DSM-based diagnostic interviews of both traumatic brain injury (TBI) participant and informant. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred community-based participants, aged 19-74 years, with traumatic brain injury sustained 0.05-5.5 years previously. SETTING: Community-based patients previously treated at a rehabilitation hospital. MAIN MEASURE: The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis. RESULTS: A psychiatric history was a high-risk factor for having the same disorder postinjury. However, the majority of cases of depression and anxiety were novel, suggesting that significant factors other than pre-TBI psychiatric status contribute to post-TBI psychiatric outcome. Female gender, lower education, and pain were also associated with postinjury depression and unemployment and older age with anxiety. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that long-term screening and support are important for individuals with TBI, regardless of preinjury psychiatric status.