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
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