Depression amongst outpatients with traumatic brain injury

The incidence of depression and its association with subject characteristics in outpatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were investigated. Logistic regression was estimated with depressed/not-depressed as the dependent variable in 41 outpatients with TBI who filled out the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Twenty-four of 41 subjects (59%) scored in the depressed categories based on BDI-II scores >13. Fourteen (34%) scored in the moderate or severe depression categories (BDI>19). Logistic regression demonstrated a positive relationship amongst depression and age, female gender, mild TBI, and use of antidepressant and stimulant drugs; and a negative relationship between depression and violent aetiology of injury. ANOVA demonstrated that individuals with mild TBI were significantly older than those with moderate or severe TBI, which might account for the association between depression and age. The implications of these results are discussed.