Abstract
Abstract: Background: We evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in mild traumatic brain
injury (MTBI) patients and investigated psychiatric comorbidity in relation to subjective symptoms
and return to work (RTW). Methods: We recruited 103 MTBI patients (mean age 40.8 years, SD 3.1)
prospectively from University Hospital. The patients were followed up for one year. The Rivermead
Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire (RPQ) and Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE)
were administered one month after MTBI. Three months after MTBI, any psychiatric disorders were
assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Results: Psychiatric
disorders were diagnosed in 26 patients (25.2%). The most common disorders were previous/current
depression. At three months, there was no dierence between patients with psychiatric disorders
versus those without them in RTW (95.7% vs. 87.3%, p = 0.260) or at least in part-time work
(100% vs. 94.4%, p = 0.245). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the median time to RTW was 10 days for
both groups. The median RPQ score was 13.0 (Interquartile range (IQR) 6.5–19.0) in patients with a
psychiatric disorder compared to 8.5 (IQR 2.3–14.0) in those without one (p = 0.021); respectively,
the median GOSE was 7.0 (IQR 7.0–8.0) compared to 8.0 (IQR 7.0–8.0, p = 0.003). Conclusions:
Approximately every fourth patient with MTBI had a psychiatric disorder. These patients reported
more symptoms, and their functional outcome measured with GOSE at one month after MTBI was
worse. However, presence of any psychiatric disorder did not aect RTW. Early contact and adequate
follow-up are important when supporting the patient’s return to work.
injury (MTBI) patients and investigated psychiatric comorbidity in relation to subjective symptoms
and return to work (RTW). Methods: We recruited 103 MTBI patients (mean age 40.8 years, SD 3.1)
prospectively from University Hospital. The patients were followed up for one year. The Rivermead
Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire (RPQ) and Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE)
were administered one month after MTBI. Three months after MTBI, any psychiatric disorders were
assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Results: Psychiatric
disorders were diagnosed in 26 patients (25.2%). The most common disorders were previous/current
depression. At three months, there was no dierence between patients with psychiatric disorders
versus those without them in RTW (95.7% vs. 87.3%, p = 0.260) or at least in part-time work
(100% vs. 94.4%, p = 0.245). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the median time to RTW was 10 days for
both groups. The median RPQ score was 13.0 (Interquartile range (IQR) 6.5–19.0) in patients with a
psychiatric disorder compared to 8.5 (IQR 2.3–14.0) in those without one (p = 0.021); respectively,
the median GOSE was 7.0 (IQR 7.0–8.0) compared to 8.0 (IQR 7.0–8.0, p = 0.003). Conclusions:
Approximately every fourth patient with MTBI had a psychiatric disorder. These patients reported
more symptoms, and their functional outcome measured with GOSE at one month after MTBI was
worse. However, presence of any psychiatric disorder did not aect RTW. Early contact and adequate
follow-up are important when supporting the patient’s return to work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 916 |
| Journal | Brain Sciences |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISSN | 2076-3425 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2020 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- ANXIETY
- ASSOCIATION
- DEPRESSION
- HEAD-INJURY
- HEALTH
- OUTCOMES
- RETURN
- SEQUELAE
- WORK
- brain concussion
- mental disorders
- post-concussion symptoms
- return to work
- 3112 Neurosciences
- 3124 Neurology and psychiatry