Financial and vocational outcomes 2 years after traumatic brain injury

To determine outcomes for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in terms of employment status, income and public assistance received at 2 years after injury.

This study was part of a non-experimental, longitudinal survey. Participants included 49 persons with new TBI from one US national Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centre. Main outcome measures included employment status, earned monthly income and monthly income from public sources, at the time of injury and at 2-years follow-up.

At 2-year follow-up, individuals with TBI reported higher levels of employment and earned income than was previously reported for 1-year post-injury, but continued to experience declines relative to pre-injury baseline. Frequency and amount of major public agency payments continued to be increased relative to baseline.

The costs associated with brain injury remain high for individuals, families and society, as those with TBI move into the more chronic phase of recovery.