Injury Severity and Depressive Symptoms in a Post-acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation Sample

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between injury severity and depressive symptoms for treatment-seeking individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Mayo Classification System was used to classify TBI severity in 72 participants who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire at admission and at dismissal from rehabilitation. Patients with mild TBI reported more depressive symptoms than those with moderate or severe TBI at admission and at dismissal. Although injury severity groups differed by gender composition, gender had no effect on severity of depressive symptoms. All participants reported fewer depressive symptoms at dismissal from rehabilitation, including lower endorsement of dysphoria by discharge. Participants with mild TBI, however, continued to report depressive symptoms of a mild severity at dismissal, with residual problems with anhedonia. These findings underscore the benefit of interdisciplinary post-acute rehabilitation services for persons with TBI of any severity, including those with mild injury.