The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
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Brain Injury and Psychiatric Problems
Washington D.C., Virginia, & Maryland Attorneys
The link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and changes in a person’s mood, behavior, and personality have been well-documented. Although some mental symptoms of brain injury may fade in the months following an accident, a victim’s vulnerability to certain psychiatric illnesses can last for decades. Brain injury tends to make patients especially susceptible to depression, panic disorders, phobias, and even substance abuse.
Brain Injury and Depression
Studies conducted by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, along with several other organizations, all agree that patients with TBI are at a significant risk of developing major depression. On average, major depression is found in over 44% of brain injury victims, contrasting with the 6% lifetime prevalence among the general population.
While the severity of a person’s brain injury has an obvious affect on the level of depression they experience, other factors can also contribute, including:
- Poverty and/or unemployment following the injury
- Marital status after the injury
- Inability to engage in activities enjoyed pre-TBI
The lifestyle changes that occur after a brain injury often compound depressive tendencies arising from the injury itself. Research has indicated that symptoms of depression tend to be more severe after more time has passed, making depression one of the few consequences of TBI that actually grows in intensity with the passage of time.
Other Psychiatric Disorders Associated With TBI
Several other psychiatric problems can afflict brain injury victims in the years following their accident, including:
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Personality disorders
The probability of psychiatric difficulty years after TBI complicates the lives of many victims who are still trying to cope with other physical and mental brain injury disabilities. Obtaining proper care, rehabilitation, and treatment is expensive, and the financial hardship it causes can put patients at further risk of developing major depression.
If a person’s brain injury was caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of a third party, that party needs to be held responsible for the overwhelming long-term consequences that TBI victims can face. Proving the fault of a third party in a brain injury case requires a thorough knowledge of both the medical and legal complexities involved.
Our experienced attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have successfully handled a wide variety of brain injury cases over the years in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. If you or one of your loved ones suffers from a psychiatric problem caused by TBI, you may be able to recover compensation from the responsible parties. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
