Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant global health concern associated with substantial long-term neuropsychiatric morbidity. While acute neurological deficits are often the primary focus of management, the chronic psychiatric sequelae remain underrecognized and undertreated. Survivors of TBI frequently develop a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality changes, and substance use disorders. These conditions can adversely affect functional recovery, social reintegration, and overall quality of life. The overlap between cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms further complicates timely diagnosis, highlighting the need for systematic evaluation of psychiatric outcomes in TBI patients.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and pattern of long-term psychiatric disorders among patients with a history of TBI and to identify associated risk factors, including injury severity, lesion location, and socio-demographic variables. Additionally, it sought to emphasize the importance of early psychiatric screening and integrated multidisciplinary care in TBI rehabilitation.

Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center involving adult patients (≥18 years) with a documented history of TBI at least six months prior to evaluation. Patients with pre-existing psychiatric illness or severe cognitive impairment precluding assessment were excluded. Data collection included detailed clinical history, neurological examination, and structured psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales were employed. Injury severity was categorized based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and neuroimaging findings. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and their association with clinical and demographic variables.

Conclusion: Long-term psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent among TBI survivors, with depression and anxiety emerging as the most common conditions. Greater injury severity, involvement of frontal and temporal lobes, and inadequate social support were identified as significant predictors of psychiatric morbidity.. Early identification and timely intervention can improve functional outcomes and enhance quality of life, supporting the integration of mental health services into standard TBI rehabilitation protocols.

Dr. Ishwar Dayal Chaurasia has done MCh in Neurosurgery. He is the head of Neurosurgery Departement LN Medical College and JK Hopsital Bhopal a 1000 bedded hospital. He has a keen interest in trauma neurosurgery, brain surgery and spine surgery. His practice covers the full spectrum of neurotrauma, including head injury, spine surgery and neurocritical care. He has over 100 publications and various international presentations.