In a recent article in JAMA*, researchers found an astounding 53.1% of those suffering from a traumatic brain injury met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder at least once in the followup period.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, major depression causes ” clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of function.”**
If the defense doctor claims “It’s only depression?” then cite that quote about depression having the same effect on mortality as smoking.
*Vol 303, no l9, may l9,2010, JAMA, l938-l945, Rates of Major Depressive Disorder and Clinical Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury Charles H. Bombardier, PhD; Jesse R. Fann, MD, MPH; Nancy R. Temkin, PhD; Peter C. Esselman, MD; Jason Barber, MS; Sureyya S. Dikmen, PhD
JAMA. 2010;303(19):1938-1945
**APA DSM4 TR, at 350.
Filed under:
Depression, TBI
By Folzer, Sandra MareaAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Vol 71(2), Apr 2001, 245-251.Abstract
This article synthesizes information about brain injuries so as to help therapists understand these patients and treat them more effectively. It describes physical/cognitive and emotional features of mild brain injuries; discusses the difficulty of assessment; emphasizes the importance of family involvement; and, finally, reviews group and individual therapeutic interventions. Family involvement and group work are described as beneficial for these patients. Individual psychotherapy is indicated for those who have a more realistic perception of their skill level, can adjust to a new self, and are able to manage emotional reactions. Therapists must understand the physical, cognitive, and psychological effects of a brain injury so that they can empathize with their patients even when there is no definitive proof of injury. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
Link to purchase
By Wade, Shari L.; Taylor, H. Gerry; Walz, Nicolay Chertkoff; Salisbury, Shelia; Stancin, Terry; Bernard, Lori A.; Oberjohn, Karen; Yeates, Keith OwenRehabilitation Psychology. Vol 53(2), May 2008, 180-190.Abstract
Objective: To understand how traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects parent-child interactions acutely following injury. Participants: Young children hospitalized for TBI (n = 80) and orthopedic injuries (OI; n = 113). Method: Raters coded videotaped interactions during free play and structured tasks for parental warmth/responsiveness and negativity and child warmth, behavior regulation, and cooperation. Raters also counted parental directives, critical/restricting statements, and scaffolds. Results: Parents of children with TBI exhibited less warm responsiveness and made more directive statements during a structured task than parents in the OI group. Children with TBI displayed less behavior regulation than children with OI. Parental warm responsiveness was more strongly related to child cooperativeness in the OI group than in the TBI group. Child behavior also mediated group differences in parental responsiveness and directiveness. TBI accounted for as much variance in parental behaviors as or more than did sociodemographic factors. Conclusion: TBI-related changes in child behavior may negatively influence parent-child interactions and disrupt the reciprocity between parent and child. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
Link to purchase : http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2008-06402-008
When the DME claims your child’s growth is “normal” in a pediatric TBI case, download the true definition by logging onto:
http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm
Here is a calculator you can use for head circumference:
http://www.infantchart.com/infantheadage.php