Traumatic brain injury and adjustment disorders

Abstract

Introduction. Traumatic brain injury and reactive psychiatric disorders are universal health problems, both individually and in comorbidity. Traffic accidents are the most common cause of traumatic head injury, followed by falls, violence, and sports injuries. Due to the fact that they are associated with rapid, stressful events, they clearly trigger or generate reactive psychiatric disorders. What makes them special in this area is their organic substrate. Almost all patients with severe head injuries, more than half with moderate, and one tenth with mild head injuries suffer neuropsychiatric sequelae. Discussion and Conclusion. Among the published papers on this topic, prospective epidemiological analytical studies are dominant. Most articles deal with injured soldiers, injured children or adolescents. Recent papers emphasize the need for a timely, multidisciplinary care for the affected people and the primary community. It is very important to initiate early rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Due to non-specific and limited pharmacotherapeutic options, especially evident in organ damage and pediatric population, special attention is given to occupational, psychological rehabilitation, and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, as well as psycho-pharmacological drugs in case of clear clinical indications. As potentially the most important for further research, are the results on the genetic predisposition of individuals for clinical outcomes of associated conditions, structural and functional visualization of brain regions associated with specific psychological symptoms, and psycho-protective role of morphine and amnesia. Involvement of the wider community in a range of activities that contribute to poor outcomes is of utmost importance.