A profile of outcome: 2 years after traumatic brain injury

A group of 175 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients who had undergone intensive rehabilitation at Bethesda Hospital attended a follow-up interview 2 years after injury. The majority of patients had suffered severe TBI. Outcome was documented in ten areas: medical/physical, mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs) accommodation, marital status, leisure and recreation, employment/study, communication, cognition and behaviour. Whilst most patients were physically independent and competent in personal and domestic activities of daily living, a third of the group were still reliant on assistance with community skills and transport, and more than half of those who previously had a job, were not working at 2 years post-injury. Around two-thirds of the sample reported cognitive, behavioural and emotional changes. There is clearly a need for ongoing community-based support and assistance in dealing with practical difficulties and psychological problems as they are experienced after return to the community.