• Solrun Sigurdardottir, Nada Andelic, Cecilie Roe, and Anne-Kristine Schanke.
• Department of Research, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway. solrun.sigurdardottir@sunnaas.no
• J Rehabil Med. 2013 Sep 1;45(8):808-14.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify predictors of depressive symptoms and psychological distress.DesignA longitudinal study with assessments at 3 months, 1 year and 5 years after injury.SubjectsA total of 118 individuals (29% females; mean age 32.5; range 16-55 years) with mild-to-severe TBI who were hospitalized in the Trauma Referral Centre from 2005 to 2007.MethodsSelf-report assessments using the Hospital Anxiety- and Depression Scale, the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Injury severity, trauma scores, pain, fatigue, substance abuse and demographic characteristics were also recorded.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18% at 3 months, 13% at 1 year and 18% at 5 years after injury. Only 4% had persistent depressive symptoms at all time-points. At 1 year post-injury, anxiety, age, ongoing stressors and employment status predicted depressive symptoms (R2 = 0.43, p < 0.001), and ongoing stressors, employment status, fatigue and pain predicted psychological distress (R2 = 0.45, p < 0.001).ConclusionPsychosocial stressors and employment status contributed to depressive symptoms and psychological distress, whereas injury severity did not have any predictive value. The prevalence of depressive symptoms remained stable over time, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and treating depression early after the injury.

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