Psychosocial outcome 5–8 years after severe traumatic brain lesions and the impact of rehabilitation services

Abstract

This study addresses three questions. First, what is the long-term psychosocial outcome for severely head-injured patients? Second, is an increased survival rate associated with an increase in the number of patients with a poor quality of life? Third, do rehabilitation services affect the final outcome? The long-term outcome was assessed by means of questionnaires for self-ratings, interviews with patients and relatives and neurophysical examinations. One hundred and six patients initially judged as good recovery/moderate disability (GR/MD) 6 months post-injury participated in the study. Forty to 50% of these patients showed co-ordination disturbances; more than 20% had speech disorders and cranial nerve deficits. Twenty-eight per cent had psychiatric symptom scores on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) indicating need of treatment. Social function according to the Social Adjustment Scale –Self-Report (SAS –SR) showed that 40% had problems concerning interpersonal relations and 20–30% had problems within the field of leisure activities, but few problems were reported on work activities and economy. The Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) revealed that hostile feelings, failing memory and fatiguability were common symptoms and were reported by relatives in 71%, 52% and 48%, respectively, but the mean distress levels were moderate. A correlation was seen between quality of life reported by relatives and the degree of mental and social disability according to the Bond Outcome Scale, but the correlation to neurophysical handicap was rather weak. The majority of patients were able to return to a productive social life. The proportion of patients with a poor long-term outcome did not increase after introduction of an aggressive management protocol for head injuries. Data indicated that improvements in facilities for rehabilitation may positively affect psychosocial adjustment.