Brainmapping valuable
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) demonstrates changes in blood flow to different areas of the brain[1]. It appeared to be more sensitive than Computerised Tomography (CT) in identifying acute brain damage in patients with mild to moderate TBI.
This was particularly true if the brain damage was localised rather than diffuse.
Deficits persist
After mild traumatic brain injury, one in four patients fail to make a complete functional recovery within 18 months[2].
Back to work
Patients with severe TBI who had not returned to pre-injury employment levels (full- or part-time) had different beliefs[3] and a greater sense of hopelessness: they felt they were less in control of their lives. They had had longer post-traumatic amnesia and longer hospital stays, and currently had lower prestige occupations.
Compared with those who did return to previous levels of employment, there was no difference in age, years of education or pre-injury occupation, nor did the groups differ in Glasgow Coma Scale on admission, length of coma or time since injury.
Early depression biological
After TBI, nonanxious depression accompanied anterior (front of) left hemisphere injury, occured earlier after the injury and was shorter-lived, lasting an average of 1.5 months[4]. Anxious depression lasted longer (average 7.5 months) and accompanied right hemisphere injury and poor social functioning.
Children affected
In 42% of families in which a parent suffered a brain injury, children developed significant reactions - poor relationship with the injured parent, acting-out behaviour and emotional problems[5].
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