EWJ June 2024 web - Journal - Page 7
Preventative Treatment
Following a Brain Injury?
by Natasha Boyd, Trainee Solicitor - Clyde and Co.
The physical, cognitive, and behavioural effects of a
traumatic brain injury are clearly life changing. Treatment in the initial months post-injury is often frontloaded with surgery and rehabilitation, primarily
focused on addressing the physical challenges a
patient might expect to face.
The UK based 18-month study aims to replicate its
US counterpart, but on a larger scale. It involves examining the use of common antidepressants prescribed in the initial period following a brain injury
and measure depression, quality of life and cognitive
functioning among 500 patients. The study will take
place across 9 major trauma centres in England and is
being funded by a £2.2m grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
However, the road to recovery from a traumatic brain
injury is complex, and often a patient will face serious
mental health issues at some point along the way. For
example, one study in particular found a cohort of patients hospitalised for a traumatic brain injury also suffered with major depressive disorder at least once
during the follow-up period[1].
We expect the study to have huge potential in
shaping how patients are treated post-traumatic brain
injury and whilst it may come with its own challenges,
preventative treatment of serious mental disorders
could be priceless in improving outcomes for patients
with these types of injuries.
This is an important consideration as mental
disorders such as depression can have a huge impact
on patients, affecting their relationships, enjoyment of
life and potentially also their earnings capacity. Symptoms can remain long after the patient has adjusted
to the physical consequences of their brain injury and
can be so embedded that they become difficult to treat
effectively.
The study will conclude in February 2025 with the
results expected in 2027 and we eagerly await the
findings.
Author: Natasha Boyd, Trainee Solicitor
References
[1] Rates of major depressive disorder and clinical outcomes
following traumatic brain injury - PubMed (nih.gov)
However, an 18-month trial is now taking place in the
UK aiming to address this issue.
[2] Study aims to break link between brain injury and
depression - BBC News Neuromodulation and Neurostimulation - Alteration of Nerve Activity Through Targeted
Delivery of a Stimulus - Conceptual Illustration
A small study in the United States has already taken
place and, encouragingly, found that the use of sertraline in the weeks after brain injury could assist in
preventing severe depression[2].
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EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
5
JUNE 2024