Workers' risk of unemployment after traumatic brain injury: a normed comparison

We examined, among those persons working preinjury, the risk of unemployment 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI) relative to expected risk of unemployment for the sample under a validated risk-adjusted econometric model of employment in the U.S. population. Results indicate that 42% of TBI cases were unemployed versus 9% expected, relative risk (RR) = 4.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) (4.12, 4.95). The relative risk for unemployment was higher among males, those with higher education, persons with more severe injuries, and more impaired early neuropsychological or functional status. Difference in unemployment rates gave similar results for gender, severity of injury, and early neuropsychological and functional status. However, for education, the excess was smaller among those more highly educated, but the unemployment rate in the more highly educated in the general population was sufficiently small to yield a larger relative risk. In conclusion, after accounting for underlying risk of unemployment in the general population, unemployment is substantially higher after TBI for people who were employed when they were injured. The differential employment status varies depending on demographics, severity of brain injury, early functional outcome, and neurobehavioral indicators. For characteristics such as education, associated with rates of unemployment in the general population, different methods used to compare the rates may yield different results.

Self-report of extent of recovery and barriers to recovery after traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the perspective of survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding the extent and nature of their recovery over time.

DESIGN

Inception cohort, longitudinal study.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred fifty-seven consecutively hospitalized individuals with TBI (mean age, 36.1 yr; 80% men) with a broad range of injury severity.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants reported the extent of their recovery and barriers to full recovery at 1, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

Participants reported a median return to normal at the 3 follow-up times of 65%, 80%, and 85%. After 1 month, self-reported extent of recovery correlated well with performance on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (p <.001 at 6 and 12 mo) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Performance IQ (p =.001 at 12 mo). The major reported barrier to recovery was physical difficulties, which constituted over half of the concerns at all time periods. Report of physical-related concerns decreased significantly (p =.002) over time whereas cognition-related concerns increased significantly (p =.02).

CONCLUSION

Brain injury survivors consider themselves to have greater recovery than previously reported by clinicians or family members, consider physical problems a significant factor in their recovery, and appear to become more aware of cognitive impairments over time.

Utility of a composite measure to detect problematic alcohol use in persons with traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVES

To examine factors complicating the study of alcohol-related effects in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and to evaluate a composite measure to categorize such patients according to degree of alcohol-related problems.

DESIGN

Inception cohort.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS

Consecutively hospitalized adult TBI patients (n = 156; 73% men; 87% Caucasian; mean age, 30yr; mean education, 12yr). Selection criteria required objective evidence of brain trauma; minimum survival of 1 month postinjury; age 15 years or older; and English speaking.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

An index of problematic drinking based on a measure created by combining blood-alcohol level, quantity-frequency of consumption, and the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Preinjury characteristics were obtained through structured interview.

RESULTS

Participants with highly problematic drinking showed poorer premorbid psychosocial functioning, including lower educational attainment, greater likelihood of problems with the law, lower perceived social support, and greater prevalence of other substance abuse.

CONCLUSION

The composite index is useful in identifying problematic drinkers among TBI patients. Results have implications for interpreting and planning research on the role of alcohol in TBI outcomes.

Neuropsychological effects of valproate in traumatic brain injury: a randomized trial

OBJECTIVES

To examine the neuropsychological side effects of valproate (VPA) given to prevent posttraumatic seizures.

METHODS

In a randomized, double-masked, parallel group clinical trial, we compared the seizure prevention and neuropsychological effects of 1 or 6 months of VPA to 1 week of phenytoin. We studied 279 adult subjects who were randomized within 24 hours of injury and examined with a battery of neuropsychological measures at 1, 6, and 12 months after injury. We examined drug effects cross-sectionally at 1, 6, and 12 months and longitudinally by examining differential change from 1 to 6 months and from 6 to 12 months as a function of protocol-dictated changes in treatment.

RESULTS

No significant adverse or beneficial neuropsychological effects of VPA were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Valproate (VPA) appears to have a benign neuropsychological side effects profile, making it a cognitively safe antiepileptic drug to use for controlling established seizures or stabilizing mood. However, based on this study, VPA should not be used for prophylaxis of posttraumatic seizures because it does not prevent posttraumatic seizures, there was a trend toward more deaths in the VPA groups, and it did not have positive effects on cognition.

Alcohol use before and after traumatic head injury

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine (1) the significance of blood alcohol level in the emergency department in history of alcohol abuse and (2) the significance of habitual alcohol use in head-injured patients before and after injury.

DESIGN

Inception cohort study with 1-year follow-up.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred ninety-seven hospitalized adult head-injury survivors with a broad spectrum of head-injury severity.

RESULTS

Alcohol use and behavioral problems associated with alcohol use were assayed before injury and in the month and year after injury. The patients' blood alcohol levels in the ED were also examined. Preinjury alcohol abuse was frequent; 42% of the subjects were legally intoxicated while in the ED. The amount of drinking and magnitude of reported preinjury alcohol problems decreased soon after the injury but was followed by an increase by 1 year, although the amount of drinking did not return to the preinjury level (P < .0001). Patients with more severe head injuries decreased their drinking more than did those with less severe head injuries. The patients' blood alcohol levels in the ED were a good indicator of the magnitude of their preinjury alcohol problems (r = .51 to .59; each, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Preinjury habitual alcohol abuse is frequent in head-injured patients. Blood alcohol levels in the ED are indicative of history of problem drinking and might serve as a basis for treatment referral. The first weeks after injury in hospitalized patients may provide an opportunity to begin interventions because head-injured patients drink less at that time.

Classification and regression trees (CART) for prediction of function at 1 year following head trauma

A cohort of 514 hospitalized head-injury survivors was identified based on their injury and 448 (87%) of them were followed for 1 year. Comprehensive neurobehavioral testing was performed 1 month and 1 year after injury. The authors developed predictions of six neuropsychological and two psychosocial outcomes 1 year after head injury. Prediction trees are presented for verbal IQ, Halstead's Impairment Index, and work status at 1 year. Early predictors of neurobehavioral outcome in survivors are similar to previously reported predictors of mortality. Extent (both depth and length) of coma and age are the medical and demographic variables most predictive of late outcome. Adding 1-month scores substantially improves prediction of neuropsychological variables. The classification and regression tree is a useful technique for predicting long-term outcome in patients with head injury. The trees are simple enough to be used in a clinical setting and, especially with 1-month scores, predictions are accurate enough for clinical utility.

One year psychosocial outcome in head injury

Psychosocial outcome at one year post-injury was examined prospectively in 466 hospitalized head-injured subjects, 124 trauma controls, and 88 friend controls. The results indicate that head injury is associated with persistent psychosocial limitations. However, the presence and extent of limitations are related to the demographics of the population injured, to other system injuries sustained in the same accident, and particularly to the severity of the head injury. More severe head injuries are associated with limitations implying greater dependence on others including poorer Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) ratings, dependent living, unemployment, low income, and reliance on family and social subsidy systems. Head injury severity is more closely related to more objective indices of psychosocial outcome (e.g., employment) than to self-perceived psychosocial limitations, such as measured by the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP).

Employment following traumatic head injuries

OBJECTIVE

Determine rates of, and factors predictive of, return to work in patients with civilian traumatic head injuries.

DESIGN

Inception cohort study with 1- to 2-year follow-up.

SETTING

Hospitalized patients in a level I trauma center.

PATIENTS

Three hundred sixty-six hospitalized head-injured subjects who were workers before injury and 95 comparison subjects participated in prospective, longitudinal investigations of employment following head injury. Head-injured and comparison subjects were similar on basic demographics and preinjury employment status. The comparison subjects consisted of patients who sustained traumatic injury to the body but not to the head.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Time taken to return to work following head injury.

RESULTS

Survival methodology was used for analysis. Whether patients returned to work and when related to both the characteristics of the injured patients (eg, education, preinjury work history), the severity of head injury and associated neuropsychologic problems, and severity of other system injuries. More precise predictions were possible using the multivariate model.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides a means of assessing employment potential predictively. This can be useful for clinical and research purposes. The results should be used cautiously and should stimulate discussions of appropriate use of services and resources to meet individual patients' needs.