Researchers conducting a large-scale study on traumatic brain injury "(TBI") report that approximately 30 percent of patients diagnosed with that condition suffer signs of depression after sustaining their injury. That figure compares to about a 10 percent rate for depression in the general population.

The study, conducted by Vanderbilt researchers under the auspices of the Agency for Healthcare and Quality, released its findings last week. Among the more noteworthy conclusions are these:

  • Risk for TBI patients to develop depression symptoms over both the short and long term
  • Evidence of only two treatment studies for TBI sufferers manifesting depression symptoms

Concerning the first point, , Oscar Guillamondegui, the study's co-author, notes that, "It doesn't matter where on the timeline you check the patient population -- six months, 12 months, two years, five years -- the prevalence is always around 30 percent across the board."

That is notable, researchers state, because of the sheer number of people sustaining TBI injuries each year. Approximately 1.2 million persons go to emergency rooms annually with TBI symptoms. Given that number, the Vanderbilt study concludes that about 360,000 of them suffer from depression.

Which leads directly to the second point, namely, that information lacks concerning how to treat TBI sufferers, with this question centrally looming: Are medications that are available for depression that is not associated with TBI safe and effective to use for the latter population?

The researchers aren't sure, saying that there is simply not enough data to know yet.

"It's unacceptable, with so many people sustaining TBIs -- both in combat and civilian life -- that we know so little about treating depression in this population," says study co-author Melissa McPheeters.

Related Resource: Vanderbilt University News, "Brain injury strongly linked to depression, but treatments lack study" April 13, 2011