Inquiry/Research Paper

Shan Dhillon
Due to recent and personal occurrences in my life I have chosen to research how traumatic brain
injuries leave lasting effects on the brain and in some cases lead to a formation of anxiety and depression.
In beginning my research I came to the reasoning that the best and most reliable resources come from
medical sites, and more particularly sites of well-known physicians that have credible research. The goal
of my research is to understand the risks and effects of brain injuries and also understand how anxiety and
depression are linked to those injuries.
"Traumatic Brain Injury: Hope Through Research." National Institute of Neurological
Disorders.
November
2,
2015.
Accessed
November
12,
2015.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/detail_tbi.htm.
TBI, or better known as traumatic brain injury, is categorized as in two main groups as to how the
injury occurred. The first, penetrating TBI, is an injury where the skull is penetrated by an object. The
second is called a non-penetrating TBI and occurs when the skull experiences blunt force without entering
the skull. Within these types of injuries, the parts of the brain affected by the accident have its own
subcategories. A focal injury is known as an injury that is isolated to a certain part of the brain, where as a
diffused injury is an injury that affects multiple parts of the brain. A primary injury occurs when the
mental effects from the injury are immediately present. A secondary injury is where the effects are
brought over a long period of time usually weeks or months.
The effects of a TBI vary in a wide range. Neurological exams are best to find any sudden or
primary changes in the brain. These include memory, hearing, speech, and coordination. As for other
more thorough neurological exams, they can detect changes in mental status, mood, and behavior. All of
which cant be told whether are long-term effects or short-term effects. In severe cases the brain can enter
a state called brain death, where the brain no longer gets blood flow so that is n neurological activity
going on, but the body can still be kept alive on life support. A vegetative state happens in cases where the
patient is unresponsive but can still have periods of unresponsive alertness and make noises of slight

movements of the body. A minimally conscious state shows signs of response to basic commands such as
yes or no questions.
Jorge, Ricardo. "Mood and Anxiety Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury."
Psychiatric Times. June 1, 2008. Accessed November 16, 2015.
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/mood-and-anxiety-disorders-following-traumatic-braininjury.
In recent studies cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems are the most common outcome of
TBIs recorded in the US. Some of these outcomes result in long term depression or suicidal thoughts on
frequent bases, that being said, depression is on the less sever side of the scale. Most patience who
survive TBIs are either paralyzed or in a vegetative state. Although dealing with anxiety and depression
from a head injury is harder than most think. In a test group with patiences who have suffered from a
TBI, 61% became depressed, and out of that 61% two-thirds showed signs of sever anxiety. From this
piece of research I have learned that depression is more common than anxiety in a victim of TBI, each
person has a different outcome making it is nearly impossible to predict the long-term effects of TBIs.
White matter is a part of the brain that is located between the cerebellum and the spinal cord,
patiences with altered white matter are more often victims of depression and anxiety. When the links
from neuron to neuron, called axons, are compromised this usually leads to depression. It changes the
way that some one thinks for the rest of their life, ultimately leaving the person in a confused and lost
state of mind. This is all speculation on what depression and anxiety feels like, again it is different for
each individual and varies depending on the severity of the TBI.
Fann, JR. "Treatment for Depression after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review."
Journal of Neurotrauma. December 26, 2009. Accessed November 16, 2015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0027322/.
To put traumatic brain injuries into perspective Ive looked up some facts that are based around
my topic. Each year 1.4 million Americans experience a TBI, and currently 3.14 million people in the US
are living with a TBI. 25% of people who have had a TBI appear to have been diagnosed with MDD
(Major Depression Disorder) within the first year, in the 7 th year of dealing with a TBI 61% of case

studies where diagnosed with MDD. On average 10% of TBI victims committed suicide within the first
year and by the 5th year of living with TBI symptoms 15% of victims either committed suicide or have
attempted to do so. All of the test subjects that were described in the studies were generally happy people
with minor everyday problems. None of the test subjects felt any form of depression or stress before their
brain injury showing that the TBI itself is the main, and in most cases the only factor, leading to
depression or anxiety.
Fann, JR. "Treatment for Depression after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review."
Journal of Neurotrauma. December 26, 2009. Accessed November 16, 2015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0027322/.
Many people begin to speculate if there is any form of cure or help you can get when dealing with
these effects of a TBI, and there is. Depression should be looked at as an illness rather than a weakness;
depression is similar to high blood pressure or something of that manner. But it is just as serious as any
other disease, medical attention is highly recommended if signs of depression arise. If thoughts of suicide
occur immediate action should be taken to seek help.
The first step in dealing with depression should be talking to a mental health professional or even
a psychiatrist. The benefits of a psychiatrist are the medicine management and counseling that they have
to offer. Depression is more commonly known as an imbalance of hormones and chemicals in the brain
causing the victim to be in a constant sadness or a slump. Antidepressants are not addictive and usually
arent taken over long periods of time. When antidepressants are prescribed to a patient, the ultimate goal
is to rebalance the brains chemicals and hormones with a short-term prescription to the drug. In most
cases antidepressants are only prescribed for a span from 6 to 12 months, making long-term usage of the
drug unnecessary. There are many different types of antidepressants and each one has a different effect on
the person consuming them, in some cases antidepressants are ineffective and harmful to some patience
because of side effects are risky with TBI injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries are a growing issue due to the health risk at hand. Many contact sports
have developed new rules or the recent years to prevent serious head injuries as much as possible. The

damage done is long-term and in most cases permanent with little to be done in sever cases. The main
goal for most awareness groups is to promote head protection in any way possible for sports and
recreational activates. Anxiety and depression are leading symptoms of TBIs that treatable but are long
and hard processes to achieve. After finding out the risks, effects, and treatments of TBIs I have
developed a better understanding of the injury and how to deal with symptoms in myself and others with
TBIs around me.