The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jun 2000
Multicenter StudyPsychological distress and family satisfaction following traumatic brain injury: injured individuals and their primary, secondary, and tertiary carers.
To assess family psychosocial outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in all family members, including relatives more peripheral to the person with the injury. ⋯ Male relatives (the majority of whom were secondary or tertiary carers) may report their distress in terms of anger and fatigue, rather than as depression and anxiety. Future research could develop TBI-specific measures of anger and fatigue as screening instruments to identify peripheral family members requiring assistance in adapting to TBI. Many families-despite their initial traumatic experience-eventually cope well, encouraging researchers and clinicians to focus future research efforts on those families who have made good adjustments to TBI.
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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.