Depression Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Interest in concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI) has increased to an all-time high due to recent media attention and public awareness. Mild TBI (mTBI), or concussion, is the most common, accounting for roughly 75% to 90% of all TBIs. Although symptoms vary, typical neurobehavioral domains affected in TBI include physical, cognitive, sleep, and emotional. Whereas the vast majority of people at all ages recover well from mTBI, risk factors and mechanisms for prolonged recovery and so-called post-concussion syndrome remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, detection and treatment of symptoms are important in order to facilitate recovery, as psychological factors may complicate or exacerbate the clinical picture. Post-mTBI depressive symptoms have multifactorial determinants, reflecting a complex neurobiopsychosocial condition.