Authors' objectives:

The Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center systematically reviewed evidence addressing key questions on depression after traumatic brain injury, including prevalence, optimizing timing and methods for diagnostic screening, and approaching treatment.

Authors' recommendations: Considerable evidence finds depression to be common after all forms and severities of TBI. At all time points from injury, prevalence is higher than the estimated 8–10 percent in the general population. No evidence provides a basis for preferring one timeframe for screening over another, implying repeated screening is imperative. No evidence is available to guide treatment choices for depression after head injury.Overall the evidence is low to guide screening and care for depression after TBI. Given at least 1.5 million TBIs per year with many potential consequences that impair quality of life and function, substantially greater efforts are warranted to understand the biologic causes, natural history, treatment, and prevention of depression after TBI.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ehc/products/77/658/CER25_TBI_Depression_Report_04_13_2011.pdf

Year Published: 2011

URL for published report: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?pageaction=displayproduct&productID=658

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)