The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Dec 1999
Interaction of posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain following traumatic brain injury.
To investigate the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain in patients who had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Effective rehabilitation of persons with chronic pain following severe TBI should recognize the role of posttraumatic stress in the maintenance of dysfunctional reactions. Specific interventions that address adaptive coping mechanisms to reduce PTSD may enhance rehabilitation for persons with TBI who suffer chronic pain.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Dec 1999
Traumatic brain injury in the United States: A public health perspective.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability among persons in the United States. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans sustain a TBI. As a result of these injuries, 50,000 people die, 230,000 people are hospitalized and survive, and an estimated 80,000-90,000 people experience the onset of long-term disability. ⋯ State surveillance systems can provide reliable data on injury causes and risk factors, identify trends in TBI incidence, enable the development of cause-specific prevention strategies focused on populations at greatest risk, and monitor the effectiveness of such programs. State follow-up registries, built on surveillance systems, can provide more information regarding the frequency and nature of disabilities associated with TBI. This information can help states and communities to design, implement, and evaluate cost-effective programs for people living with TBI and for their families, addressing acute care, rehabilitation, and vocational, school, and community support.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Dec 1999
Functional outcome of individuals with traumatic brain injury and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.
To determine the impact of acute lower extremity (LE) deep venous thrombosis (DVT) on functional outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Lower extremity DVT does not appear to interfere with functional outcome after TBI. The data suggest that this patient population is appropriate for admission or continued participation in acute inpatient rehabilitation, despite the presence of LE DVT.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Dec 1999
Neuropsychological significance of anosmia following traumatic brain injury.
To investigate the incidence of anosmia following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using a standardized instrument and to test hypotheses that post-TBI anosmics perform significantly more poorly than do post-TBI normosmics on measures of executive skills and functional outcome. ⋯ Anosmia is a common sequela of TBI, although only a minority of patients are aware of this deficit. Further, anosmics demonstrated greater impairment in a variety of frontal-lobe mediated executive functions, as well as greater functional disability.