The link between traumatic brain injuries and depression
Missouri residents may be unaware that most scientific research into mental illness has found that individuals who suffer serious head injuries have a far higher risk of developing depression. The general scientific consensus is that the risk of depression is between two and five times higher for traumatic brain injury sufferers compared to the population as a whole.
Traumatic brain injuries are generally caused by severe blows to the head. Automobile accidents are one of the most common causes of TBIs, but they may also be occur as a result of falls or sporting injuries. Diagnosing a TBI is often difficult for physicians because there are no completely reliable tests to help them and medical science has yet to unlock the deepest secrets of the human brain. Common symptoms of a TBI include problems remembering, mood swings and confusion.
When depression goes undiagnosed in TBI sufferers, it can make it very difficult for them to cope with the demands of lengthy rehabilitation programs. Depressed individuals may become increasingly despondent as their efforts to recover produce only modest results. However, when physicians recognize the signs of depression, they may prescribe antidepressants to help TBI sufferers as they rehabilitate and recover.
Serious brain injuries can leave accident victims changed forever, and even those who recover fully may be left in dire financial difficulties due to being kept out of the workforce for several months. When personal injury attorneys seek compensation for TBI sufferers who were hurt in an accident caused by a negligent individual, it can be difficult to communicate to juries just how devastating this type of injury can be. In these situations, attorneys may call upon medical experts such as neurologists who can explain how a serious head injury can greatly impact an individual’s life.