Psychiatric Complications of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Over the past few years, there has been an increased focus on mental health. This comes with good reason because mental health is one of the last few vestiges of healthcare where the stigma is still on the individual suffering from the disease instead of on the illness itself. Unfortunately, mental health impacts more people than most realize. According to some of the statistics that have been published by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI):
- Close to 20 percent of adults in the United States suffer from mental illnesses annually.
- About a quarter of these individuals have a mental illness that is so severe that it impacts their quality of life and interferes with their daily activities.
- Around 20 percent of children also have a mental illness.
- About one percent of people in the United States are living with schizophrenia.
- Twice this number are living with bipolar disorder.
- Between 5 and 10 percent of adults suffer from Major Depressive Disorder.
These numbers illustrate just how severe mental illnesses can be. It is important for everyone to understand where these illnesses come from so that people can receive help as early as possible. Sometimes, people develop a mental illness because of a traumatic brain injury.
Mechanisms of Traumatic Brain Injuries
People could sustain a traumatic brain injury in many ways. Some of the most common mechanisms include:
- Sports, such as soccer, basketball, and football.
- Auto accidents and other motor vehicle collisions.
- Slip and fall injuries, such as on a wet floor or an icy sidewalk.
Regardless of the mechanism of the injury, impacts to the head or neck area always need to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, people who suffer traumatic brain injuries are at risk of developing substantial complications which could impact the entire family.
Mental Health Complications Stemming from a Traumatic Brain Injury
There are lots of complications that people could suffer from when they sustain a traumatic brain injury. Some of these complications include:
- Infection, particularly with a penetrating brain injury.
- Amnesia, including both the loss of old memories and issues developing new ones.
- Chronic pain, which can prevent people from returning to work or school.
Unfortunately, people who suffer a traumatic brain injury could also develop psychiatric complications. Mental health disorders can manifest in different ways depending on the part of the brain that has been damaged. This includes depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Treatment of Mental Health Concerns
When someone has a mental illness, it is important to seek treatment as quickly as possible. The earlier someone receives the right medical care, the faster the recovery process can begin. The treatment of every mental health disorder requires a well-rounded approach. This includes:
Counseling: Therapy is vital because it provides the individual with insight into how and why they feel a certain way.
Medication: In many situations, psychiatric medication can be helpful. These medications impact the way that neurotransmitters flow through the brain and can help a damaged part of the brain function better.
Support: Without a doubt, support from family and friends is vital for everyone who is suffering from a mental illness. For this reason, mental health must be addressed from the standpoint of the entire family, not just the individual.
Watch YouTube Video: Psychiatric Issues after Brain Injury. The video below helps shed some light on psychiatric issues that victims can experience following a brain injury.
Help from a Lawyer
When people suffer from a mental health illness following a traumatic brain injury, it is important for everyone to get the help that they need. Some of the problems that families could face include:
- The uncertainty of how the injury was sustained in the first place.
- Concerns regarding the investigation of the accident.
- Issues related to insurance coverage of medical costs.
- Problems related to loss of employment or income.
Families who would like help following a serious injury, particularly one with complications, should take the time to meet with a trained personal injury attorney in Sacramento. Everyone deserves help during their time of need.
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Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. Psychiatric and mental health complications following a traumatic brain injury should not be overlooked. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Psychiatric Complications of a Traumatic Brain Injury: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ Psychiatric Complications of a Traumatic Brain Injury.
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