Mental health disorders after traumatic brain injury in a New Zealand caseload

Systematic review protocol for facilitators and barriers to integrating health services for traumatic brain injury and mental health or addictions

INTRODUCTION

In the most populous province of Canada, one in five adults and one in six students report a lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These individuals were also more likely to report elevated psychological distress and use illicit substances compared with those without TBI. The need for integrated health services has been recognised globally, yet efforts to develop more comprehensive and effective care for TBI and mental health and/or addictions (MHA) continue to be challenged by the siloing of the two systems. This protocol is for a systematic review that describes the current types of integrated care for TBI and MHA and identifies the barriers and facilitators to integrating healthcare for these populations.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This review will systematically search MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Sociological Abstracts, and Dissertations & Theses Global. References of eligible articles will also be searched for additional relevant studies. The search strategy will include the use of text words and subject headings relevant to the concepts 'TBI,' 'substance abuse, gambling, or mental health,' 'integrated healthcare,' 'barriers and facilitators,' and 'healthcare access.' Two reviewers will independently screen all articles based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and perform quality assessment on eligible studies. A narrative synthesis will be conducted using the data abstracted by the two reviewers.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Findings from the systematic review will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific meetings, and summarised for key stakeholders in the field of TBI and/or MHA. This protocol will form a systematic review that holds the potential to impact policy and planning in the development of integrated person-centred care for TBI and MHA and addresses a recognised gap in TBI care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018108343.

Improving Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes: The Development of an Evaluation and Referral Tool at Groote Schuur Hospital

BACKGROUND

The Western Cape Province of South Africa has a great shortage of diagnostic expertise, rehabilitative infrastructure, and support services for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The neurosurgical outpatient setting is busy and often chaotic, and patients are frequently lost to follow-up. This study sought to continue with the design and development of a comprehensive, yet brief tool to aid patient referrals and ensure that no consequence of TBI is left unidentified and unaddressed.

METHODS

There were 47 patients with TBI (mean age, 35 years; range, 18-75 years) assessed. The study was designed in 3 distinct phases, each representing a different stage in the tool's development.

RESULTS

The Groote Schuur Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation was shortened and simplified. Overall, 81% of the participants indicated cognitive dysfunction. There was a high prevalence of psychological/psychiatric sequelae, with 85% of participants reporting at least 1 such problem.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings further highlight the prevalence of the cognitive, behavioral, and psychological consequences of TBI and shed additional light on the particular types of problems that patients with TBI face. Following the identified changes, the questionnaire and algorithm combination are now ready to be validated in the neurosurgical clinical setting.

A prospective examination of Axis I psychiatric disorders in the first 5 years following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric disorders commonly emerge during the first year following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is not clear whether these disorders soon remit or persist for long periods post-injury. This study aimed to examine, prospectively: (1) the frequency, (2) patterns of co-morbidity, (3) trajectory, and (4) risk factors for psychiatric disorders during the first 5 years following TBI.

METHOD

Participants were 161 individuals (78.3% male) with moderate (31.2%) or severe (68.8%) TBI. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, administered soon after injury and 3, 6 and 12 months, and 2, 3, 4 and 5 years post-injury. Disorder frequencies and generalized estimating equations were used to identify temporal relationships and risk factors.

RESULTS

In the first 5 years post-injury, 75.2% received a psychiatric diagnosis, commonly emerging within the first year (77.7%). Anxiety, mood and substance-use disorders were the most common diagnostic classes, often presenting co-morbidly. Many (56.5%) experienced a novel diagnostic class not present prior to injury. Disorder frequency ranged between 61.8 and 35.6% over time, decreasing by 27% [odds ratio (OR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-0.83] with each year post-injury. Anxiety disorders declined significantly over time (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63-0.84), whilst mood and substance-use disorder rates remained stable. The strongest predictors of post-injury disorder were pre-injury disorder (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.41-4.25) and accident-related limb injury (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.03-3.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest the first year post-injury is a critical period for the emergence of psychiatric disorders. Disorder frequency declines thereafter, with anxiety disorders showing greater resolution than mood and substance-use disorders.