Predictors of psychiatric disorders following traumatic brain injury

To investigate predictors of posttraumatic brain injury psychiatric disorders.

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.

One hundred community-based participants, aged 19-74 years, with traumatic brain injury sustained 0.05-5.5 years previously.

Community-based patients previously treated at a rehabilitation hospital.

The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnosis.

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.

Findings suggest that long-term screening and support are important for individuals with TBI, regardless of preinjury psychiatric status.