Psychiatric aspect of traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also called “silent epidemic”, is still a serious public health problem, even with modern medicine of the 21st century. Approximately 70 million people worldwide suffer traumatic brain injury each year. Psychiatric disorders are one of the short-term and long-term complications of TBI. Almost all psychiatric disorders, especially depression, anxiety disorders and alcohol/substance abuse, increase after TBI. Attention should be paid to the increase in suicide attempts because of the difficulties experienced in the physical, psychological and social areas. After TBI, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin levels are changing and this change partially explains the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms. Pharmacological drugs can be used to modify these changing neurotransmitters. In addition to pharmacological treatment, environmental interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy have an important role in the treatment of TBI. Although TBI is beter understood with time, it is still an important problem. Trauma not only affects the patient but also affects the whole family, especially the caregiver. In this respect TBI is seen as a problem of society. In addition, the children of parents with TBI are at serious risk for psychiatric disorders. All patients with TBI should be evaluated and treated in this context.

Keywords

• traumatic brain injury
• psychiatric disorders
• depression
• epidemiology
• treatment