System dynamics modeling for traumatic brain injury: Mini-review of applications

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a highly complex phenomenon involving a cascade of disruptions across biomechanical, neurochemical, neurological, cognitive, emotional, and social systems. Researchers and clinicians urgently need a rigorous conceptualization of brain injury that encompasses nonlinear and mutually causal relations among the factors involved, as well as sources of individual variation in recovery trajectories. System dynamics, an approach from systems science, has been used for decades in fields such as management and ecology to model nonlinear feedback dynamics in complex systems. In this mini-review, we summarize some recent uses of this approach to better understand acute injury mechanisms, recovery dynamics, and care delivery for TBI. We conclude that diagram-based approaches like causal-loop diagramming have the potential to support the development of a shared paradigm of TBI that incorporates social support aspects of recovery. When developed using adequate data from large-scale studies, simulation modeling presents opportunities for improving individualized treatment and care delivery.

Bridging the Gap between Basic Research and Clinical Practice: The Growing Role of Translational Neurorehabilitation

“…It is noteworthy that other approaches, such as system dynamics, may play a pivotal role in the global comprehension of the main neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, PD, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury [ 65 ]. System dynamics is a branch of the complex systems science, and it allows for the construction of models with a non-linear relationship that produce non-linear behaviours through diagrams or simulations [ 65 , 66 ]. Specifically, the system dynamics approaches range from high speculative mathematical models to diagram-based and group modelling methods.…”

“…These models aim to go deeper into the knowledge regarding specific mechanisms and processes involved in the patient recovery. Kenzie et al [ 66 ] described some system dynamics models implicated in the mechanisms of traumatic brain injury and its recovery. Notably, the system dynamic regarding the comprehension of acute mechanisms of traumatic brain injuries should take into account the high variability within and between subjects.…”