Traumatic brain injury: severity, pathophysiology and neurobehavioural outcome

Abstract

At least 1.4 million people die, or receive hospital or emergency care every year in the United States as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many more are treated in other settings or receive no treatment at all. Thus TBI is often unidentified, with subsequent cognitive, behavioral, emotional and physical sequelae that are not linked to the injury. Yet, over 5.3 million Americans live with TBI-related disabilities that interfere with their overall performance and social roles within the community. Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Damage caused by focal and diffuse lesions produces symptoms involving most major medical systems as well as symptoms of neuro-logical and psychological origin. Recent published articles on emotional and behavioural consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are reviewed. The ranges of clinical problems reviewed include depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, as well as the TBI animal model.