26 Sep Depressive disorders are the most frequent neuropsychiatric complication of TBI

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Ricardo Jorge

Ricardo E. Jorge  MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Director Houston Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders
Senior Scientist  Beth K. and Stuart C. Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry
Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center
Baylor College of Medicine

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Depressive disorders affect between one-third and one-half of patients with traumatic brain injury. Once established, these disorders are difficult to treat and frequently follow a chronic and refractory course.

Depression has a deleterious effect on TBI outcomes, particularly affecting the community reintegration of TBI patients.

In this randomized clinical trial that included 94 adult patients with TBI, the hazards for developing depression for participants receiving placebo were about 4 times the hazards of participants receiving sertraline treatment.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Depressive disorders are the most frequent neuropsychiatric complication of TBI affecting up to 50% of patients during the first year after TBI. Preventive treatment may have a decisive effect in reducing the burden of depressive disorders and improving the recovery and quality of life of patients with traumatic brain injury

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: It is important to replicate these findings in larger multi center studies with longer follow-up in order to determine whether it is reasonable to recommend a change in the treatment guidelines for TBI patients.

In addition, we should examine the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions to prevent depression in this population. 

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Antidepressants were effective at relatively small doses resulting in only mild side effects from the medication.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

JAMA Psychiatry. 2016 Sep 14. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2189.
[Epub ahead of print]
Sertraline for Preventing Mood Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Jorge RE, Acion L, Burin DI, Robinson RG.

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com

[wysija_form id=”5″]

Last Updated on September 27, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD