Traumatic brain injury and coextensive psychopathology: New evidence from the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health issue associated with increased medical comorbidity and economic burden. The majority of studies of TBI among clinical populations are geographically limited and rely on small samples. As such, the current study seeks to examine the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of TBI in a nationally representative emergency department (ED) sample. Using the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between TBI history, sociodemographic factors and mental health disorders. An estimated 179,986 adults age 18 and older were admitted to United States EDs in 2016 with a personal history of TBI. The majority of patients were male (69.71%), ages 50 years or older (50.92%) with Medicare (44.30%) or Medicaid (28.65%) insurance. Diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR = 3.99), affective disorders (AOR = 2.97), anxiety disorders (AOR = 1.68), personality and behavior disorders (AOR = 2.77), and schizophrenia (AOR = 2.80) were significantly associated with history of TBI. These results provide insight into the developmental pathogenesis of TBI and its comorbid psychiatric consequences.

Keywords: Emergency care; Mental health; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Traumatic brain injury.