Traumatic brain injury and marital relationships: a literature review

This is a review of the research regarding the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the marital relationship. Individuals who have withstood a severe traumatic brain injury usually exhibit a range of cognitive and behavioural disabilities. Typical problems outlined in the research include: attention and concentration deficits, memory and information-processing deficits, judgement and perception difficulties. While these impediments pose problems for community re-integration, they may become sources of difficulty for the spouse. The following report critically examines the literature on the effects of head injury on marital relationships. This research has demonstrated that spouses' reactions to TBI include feelings of anxiety, isolation, and loss. In addition, this literature review shows that there is a dearth of research that has regarded the individual with TBI to be a valid source of information, or has considered women with TBI in a marital situation.