Estudio comparativo de patología psiquiátrica en pacientes con traumatismos generales y traumatismo craneoencefálico / Comparative study of psychiatric disorders in general traumatism and brain injuried patients

Introducción. El presente estudio evalúa diferentes patologías psiquiátricas asociadas a lesiones de origen traumático; su frecuencia de presentación, y la forma como se correlacionan según se trate de un traumatismo craneoencefálico o de zonas diferentes al cráneo. Métodos. Se trata de un estudio de cohorte prospectiva con una muestra de 249 pacientes: 122 con traumatismo craneoencefálico y 127 con lesiones de otras zonas corporales. Se entrevistaron al ingreso en el centro, con seguimiento a los 6 y los 12 meses de la lesión. Resultados. La incidencia de depresión y trastornos de ansiedad fue similar a la obtenida en estudios previos, sin diferencia significativa entre los pacientes con traumatismos craneoencefálicos comparados con los traumatismos generales. En ambos grupo hubo un descenso significativo de la calidad de vida, así como un incremento en los problemas con el alcohol al año del traumatismo. Entre los lesionados cerebrales se detectó con mayor frecuencia el cambio orgánico de la personalidad con síntomas de apatía. Conclusiones. La incidencia de trastornos psiquiátricos en el paciente con lesiones traumáticas es alta y contribuye de forma importante a un deterioro en el estado de salud y la calidad de vida del enfermo. Los pacientes con lesiones cerebrales tienen mayor probabilidad de desarrollar un cambio orgánico de la personalidad

Introduction. This study evaluates the presentation of different psychiatric pathologies secondary to traumatic injuries; assessing the presentation frequency and how it correlates with whether it is a brain injury (TBI) or one in a different corporal area. Methods. The study group consisted of 249 patients, 122 with TBI and 127 with injuries from different body areas. The patients conditions were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after the traumatic episode. Psychiatric diagnosis was made using a structured clinical interview and DSM-IV criteria. Results. Depressive and anxiety disorders were observed in frequencies similar to prevoius reports; without significant differences between TBI and non-TBI groups. The organic change of personality was significantly more frequent among patients with TBI than among the non-TBI with apathy features. There was a significant decrease in quality of life one year after the traumatism in both groups. Conclusions. Psychiatric disease is a frequent complication of injured patients; and it is associated with deterioration of general health and quality of life. TBI patients have more probability of developing an organic change of personality

[Comparative study of psychiatric disorders in general traumatism and brain injured patients]. / Estudio comparativo de patología psiquiátrica en pacientes con traumatismos generales y traumatismo craneoencefálico.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the presentation of different psychiatric pathologies secondary to traumatic injuries; assessing the presentation frequency and how it correlates with whether it is a brain injury (TBI) or one in a different corporal area. METHODS: The study group consisted of 249 patients, 122 with TBI and 127 with injuries from different body areas. The patients conditions were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after the traumatic episode. Psychiatric diagnosis was made using a structured clinical interview and DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: Depressive and anxiety disorders were observed in frequencies similar to previous reports; without significant differences between TBI and non-TBI groups. The organic change of personality was significantly more frequent among patients with TBI than among the non-TBI with apathy features. There was a significant decrease in quality of life one year after the traumatism in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disease is a frequent complication of injured patients; and it is associated with deterioration of general health and quality of life. TBI patients have more probability of developing an organic change of personality.