Traumatic brain injuries are among the most unpredictable types of injuries a person can suffer. Though so much of the human brain’s inner workings remains mystery to modern medicine, physicians do know that when the brain is damaged, there’s great potential for profound deficits in a victim’s cognition, mobility, and social-psychological health. According to a new scientific study, that very much includes mental health disorders.
According to a study published in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry, researchers are finding increasingly stronger ties between mild traumatic brain injuries and greater risks for mental health problems. Here are a few details about the study and researchers’ key findings:
- Researchers evaluated over 1,100 patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and more than 200 with non-head injuries who were admitted to nearly a dozen different hospitals and trauma centers in the U.S. between 2014 and 2016.
- Patients – whose injuries were caused largely by motor vehicle accidents, as well as falls, unintentional incidents, and assaults – we evaluated by researchers shortly after their hospital admission, 2 weeks after their initial treatment, and periodically over the course of a year. Those evaluations showed many patients experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorders.
- According to their findings, 21.2% of patients with mild traumatic brain injuries experienced PTSD or depression up to six months after suffering their injury – compared to just roughly 12% of patients with injuries which did not affect the head. Researchers also noted pre-existing mental health issues were an exceptionally strong risk factor in those who did experience PTSD or depression symptoms after head injuries.
Though the study did note that findings can’t generalize all victims or hospitals across the country, and that it relied largely on patient self-reporting, the notable rates of PTSD and depression warrant further research when it comes to monitoring and treating the psychological effects of TBI. That research will add to the growing information scientists are collecting about long-term effects such as CTE, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and more – specially in terms of depression, PTSD, and other similar conditions in athletes, veterans, and everyday individuals.
Brain Injuries: Changing Victims’ Lives
Though the term “mild” may cause one to believe these types of injuries aren’t as serious as others, the descriptive “mild” only describes the severity of the initial trauma which occurred. That trauma can include nearly any type of physical and forceful shaking of the head, and may cause occur with or without any actual impact or loss of consciousness. Examples of how victims may suffer a traumatic brain injury include:
- Car accidents involving blunt force trauma to the head
- “Whiplash” injuries which cause the brain to move rapidly within the skull
- Slip and fall accidents, falling objects, and falls from heights
- Sports-related injuries, including concussions in youth sports
- Bicycle accidents and scooter accidents, including sharable e-scooters
- Military service, accidents, and use of heavy artillery
Victims who experience mild traumatic brain injuries, which include concussions, can still suffer profoundly after their accidents, experiencing a range of setbacks and symptoms that change how they live their lives – both as they recover from their injuries, and potentially for months, weeks, or years after. This includes not only the bills attached to medical treatment or the financial losses experienced from missing work, but also the physical and emotional pain and suffering they can endure.
Biren Law Group: Fighting for Brain Injury Victims & Families Across SoCal
As a Los Angeles personal injury law firm that’s been serving Southern California for decades, and which has a special commitment to military veterans and service members, Biren Law Group is very familiar with the effects brain injuries can have on victims and their families, and how unpredictable, unique, and varying they can be. That experience has driven our approach to personalizing the way we handle these cases and help our clients. From guiding them through medical evaluations like MRIs and keeping track of their progress to accurately conveying the damages they suffer when negotiating settlements or fighting at trial, our history with these claims provides the tools needed to win.
If you or a loved one have recently suffered a head injury in an accident you believe was preventable, you may have the right to seek a financial recovery of your damages from the responsible party. Personal injury claims are powerful legal actions that offer victims an opportunity to hold negligent individuals and entities accountable, but they require experienced legal counsel to navigate and resolve successfully – especially when they concern challenging and medically complex issues like brain injuries.
Contact us to speak with an attorney about your potential case.