Suzanne Barker-Collo1, Alice Theadom2, Kelly Jones2, Nicola Starkey3, Michael Kahan4, Valery Feigin2. 1. a School of Psychology , University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand. 2. b National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience, School of Public health & Psychosocial Studies , Auckland University of Technology , Auckland , New Zealand. 3. c School of Psychology , University of Waikato , Hamilton , New Zealand. 4. d Waikato Occupational Services , Hamilton , Waikato District Health Board , New Zealand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emotional disorders are considered to contribute to persistent difficulties after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Few studies have examined anxiety after mild TBI, and fewer have examined comorbid depression and anxiety and their trajectories over time. This study describes depression and anxiety across 48-months after mild TBI in adults (aged >15 years at injury). METHODS: Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in a sample of 341 adults with mild TBI within 2 weeks of injury and then at 6-, 12- and 48-months post-injury. RESULTS: Mean anxiety and depression total scores decreased significantly over time. Prevalence of depression ranged from 0% to 7.7%, whilst anxiety was present in 3.7-29.5% of cases. Comorbid anxiety and depression prevalence ranged from 10.2% to 20.7%. At each time of assessment, the greatest proportion of individuals had neither depression nor anxiety (range 28-49%). The findings suggest multiple trajectories over time. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that both anxiety and depression need to be screened regularly after mild TBI. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that someone who initially presents without depression or anxiety will remain free of these as they negotiate life after injury.
BACKGROUND:Emotional disorders are considered to contribute to persistent difficulties after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Few studies have examined anxiety after mild TBI, and fewer have examined comorbid depression and anxiety and their trajectories over time. This study describes depression and anxiety across 48-months after mild TBI in adults (aged >15 years at injury). METHODS:Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in a sample of 341 adults with mild TBI within 2 weeks of injury and then at 6-, 12- and 48-months post-injury. RESULTS: Mean anxiety and depression total scores decreased significantly over time. Prevalence of depression ranged from 0% to 7.7%, whilst anxiety was present in 3.7-29.5% of cases. Comorbid anxiety and depression prevalence ranged from 10.2% to 20.7%. At each time of assessment, the greatest proportion of individuals had neither depression nor anxiety (range 28-49%). The findings suggest multiple trajectories over time. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that both anxiety and depression need to be screened regularly after mild TBI. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that someone who initially presents without depression or anxiety will remain free of these as they negotiate life after injury.
Authors: Dania A Al-Kader; Chimaoge I Onyechi; Ijeoma V Ikedum; Abdul Fattah; Shumaila Zafar; Sadaf Bhat; Mohammad A Malik; Nimarta Bheesham; Laila Tul Qadar; Mustafa Sajjad Cheema Journal: Cureus Date: 2022-08-13