Washington State researchers have found that severe depression within the first year of a suffering a traumatic brain injury is common. Studies indicate that the incidence of major depression among 559 people with traumatic brain injury was nearly eight times greater than would be expected in the general population.
Major depression during the first year of a traumatic brain injury led to a poorer quality of life and ability to carry out normal function. An estimated three million Americans are currently living with a traumatic brain injury. The most common cause is automobile accidents.
Usually brain injury treatments are focused on the injury and its effect on a person’s ability to think clearly. However, the consequent severe depression can cause negative effects on the recovery. Of the 1,080 brain injury patients admitted to one trauma center in Seattle between June 2001 and March 2005, 559 agreed to participate in the study and were followed for 12 months. Study participants were mostly men injured in automobile accidents. In the first year of brain injury, it was found that more than half of the participants (about 53 percent) were diagnosed with major depression.
Ross Jurewitz is a brain injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in an accident causing brain injury in California, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz’s book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.