[ comparison of demographics, psychological and hospital care characteristics in patients with and without mental disorders following traumatic brain injury]

ABSTRACT

The main question of this study is that why some patients with traumatic brain injury [TBI], suffer mental disorders even after recovery from physical problems, while others with some similar characteristics do not receive the diagnosis of any mental disorders. In this study which was performed from March to February 2010 in the Poursina Medical and Educational Center of Rasht city overall, 238 patients [43 females and 195 males] with TBI in the form of a descriptive-longitudinal study, were chosen by non-random, consecutive sampling. Each patient was evaluated by Glasgow coma scale, Glasgow outcome scale,Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised [WAIS-R]vocabulary and picture completion subtests, Mini-Mental State Examination and General health questionnaire. After 4 months of follow-up, 65.1% [155 cases] of patients were referred to a psychiatrist to determine the nature of mental disorder due to TBI, using check list for structured clinical interview based on diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders-IV [DSM-IV] diagnostic criteria. The results showed that two group of patients [with and without mental disorders] were significantly different in variables such as level of consciousness [P<0.001], duration of loss of consciousness [P<0.003], duration of confined inintensive care unit [P<0.005], length of hospitalization [P<0.013] and levels of General compatibility after the trauma [P<0.0001] 4 months after TBI. Planning effective interventions, inclusion in the neurobehavioral rehabilitation processes following TBI and also monitoring and evaluation of these patients at least four months after trauma can reduce the risk of mental disorders