Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury
What is depression?
Depression is a feeling of sadness, loss, despair or hopelessness that does not get better over time and is overwhelming enough to interfere with daily life. There is cause for concern when feeling depressed or losing interest in usual activities occurs at least several days per week and lasts for more than two weeks.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling down, sad, blue or hopeless.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities.
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or that you are a failure.
- Changes in sleep or appetite.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Withdrawing from others.
- Tiredness or lack of energy.
- Moving or speaking more slowly, or feeling restless or fidgety.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
Feeling sad is a normal response to the losses and changes a person faces after TBI. However, prolonged feelings of sadness or not enjoying the things you used to enjoy are often key signs of depression, especially if you also have some of the other symptoms listed above.
How common is depression after TBI?
Depression is a common problem after TBI. About half of all people with TBI are affected by depression within the first year after injury. Even more (nearly two-thirds) are affected within seven years after injury. In the general population, the rate of depression is much lower, affecting fewer than one person in 10 over a one-year period. More than half of the people with TBI who are depressed also have significant anxiety.
What causes depression after TBI?
Many different factors contribute to depression after TBI, and these vary a great deal from person to person.
- Physical changes in the brain due to injury. Depression may result from injury to the areas of the brain that control emotions. Changes in the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, can cause depression.
- Emotional response to injury. Depression can also arise as a person struggles to adjust to temporary or lasting disability, losses or role changes within the family and society.
- Factors unrelated to injury.Some people have a higher risk for depression due to inherited genes, personal or family history, and other influences that were present before the brain injury.
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