TBI INFORMATION SPOTLIGHT
Research In Focus
Research In Focus is a weekly digest of new research funded by the National Rehabilitation Information Center( NARIC).
Each week features an overview of a published research study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Each overview highlights important findings, and discusses implications or directions for future research.
Here are some recent research overviews on Traumatic Brain Injury( TBI).
New Findings May Offer Insight for Interventions to Strengthen Long Term Marriage Stability for People with TBI
Previous research has shown that marriage stability plays a vital role in living well after TBI. Previous studies were limited to very small sample sizes or only looked at marriage status for a relatively small number of years after the injury( i. e., < 10 years).
Since marital stability appears to play a prominent role in the wellness of people recovering from and living with a TBI, Researchers from TBI Model System Centers in Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio looked to investigate marital stability over a longer period of time. They looked at marital stability, rate of change in marital status, and predictors of marital stability over 10 years after initial TBI. The researchers wanted to know what personal characteristics might predict marital stability. They also wanted to know whether the cause of injury or severity of TBI would increase the likelihood of staying married or ending a marriage.
Read what the researchers found here
Lifetime TBI History May Be Associated with Intermittent or Persistent Pain and Opioid Use
People who have had a TBI may be especially predisposed to opioid use because many live with chronic pain after their injury. Prior research of veterans has shown that those who have a history of TBI and increased risk for pain are at an increased likelihood of short- and long-term opioid use. However, little is known about the relationship between TBI, pain, and opioid use among the general TBI population.
Researchers from the TBI Model System Centers in Ohio and New York evaluated the association between the presence of persistent or intermittent pain, recent opioid use, and the lifetime history of TBI in adults over the age of 50. The researchers wanted to know whether individuals with a history of TBI would have an increased risk for persistent or intermittent pain, and an increased risk for recent prescription opioid use compared to those without TBI.
Read what the researchers found here
Spanish-Speaking Immigrants Share Experiences Adjusting to TBI
It is common for people with TBI who are Hispanic, especially recent immigrants to the United States, to experience changes in their employment status or important relationships after injury. In fact, research has shown that Hispanic Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic white Americans to return to work after TBI, and they have reported lower levels of community integration after injury. Spanish-speaking immigrants may have difficulty accessing highquality rehabilitation services if they do not have health insurance or if they do not speak English. In addition, discrimination and fears of deportation can also limit opportunities for these individuals to receive supports after TBI.
Researchers at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on
Community Integration of Persons with TBI asked Spanish-speaking immigrants with recent TBI to describe their quality of life( QOL) and self-concept after injury. They wanted to find out what factors helped or hindered QOL for these individuals. They also wanted to find out how the TBI impacted their sense of self.
Read what the researchers found here
What are the First Signs of Consciousness After a Severe Brain Injury?
People commonly lose consciousness for days or weeks after a severe brain injury. When emerging from an unconscious or comatose state, they may first enter a vegetative state. This is where their eyes are open, but they show no signs of conscious awareness. Then, they may gradually show signs of consciousness, such as visually tracking a moving object, following simple commands, or answering yes / no questions. Over time, these signs may appear more consistently and may progress to more complex behaviors, such as handling familiar objects. Accurately detecting the first signs of consciousness may improve rehabilitation planning and care for people with severe brain injuries.
Researchers at the Spaulding- Harvard TBI Model System Center looked at records from people with severe brain injuries who transitioned from coma or UWS to a minimally conscious state. They wanted to find out which signs of consciousness appeared first in these individuals and how long it took for signs to appear after the brain injuries. They also wanted to find out whether people with TBI had different patterns of regaining consciousness compared to people without TBI.
Read what the researchers found here
4 uab. edu / tbi