Related Experiment Videos
Irritability following traumatic brain injury.
1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|June 24, 1999
Summary
Irritability after closed head injury can have acute or delayed onset. Acute irritability links to left cortical lesions, while delayed irritability is associated with social and daily living impairments, suggesting different causes and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Irritability is a common behavioral change following traumatic brain injury.
- Understanding the clinical and pathoanatomical basis of post-injury irritability is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify clinical and pathoanatomical correlates of irritability in patients with closed head injuries.
- To differentiate between acute and delayed onset irritability and their associated factors.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive series of 66 patients with closed head injuries were assessed.
- Patients were categorized into acute onset irritability, delayed onset irritability, and no irritability groups.
- Follow-ups were conducted at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-injury.
Main Results:
- 18.2% of patients exhibited acute onset irritability, and 15.1% showed delayed onset irritability.
- Acute onset irritability was associated with a higher frequency of left cortical lesions.
- Delayed onset irritability correlated with poor social functioning and impaired activities of daily living.
Conclusions:
- Post-brain injury irritability may stem from different underlying causes depending on its onset.
- The findings suggest distinct therapeutic approaches for acute versus chronic irritability following head injury.