You Only Get One Brain: Adult Reflections on the Long-Term Impacts of Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescence

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Therese Mulligan ◽  
Suzanne Barker-Collo ◽  
Kerry Gibson ◽  
Kelly Jones
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Perceived Impact

Abstract Background: This research adds to scarce literature regarding adolescent experiences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Retrospective accounts of young adults who had sustained a TBI in adolescence were analysed to explore the perceived impact this had on their lives and forming identities during this important developmental stage. Methods: Thirteen adults (aged 20–25 years; mean 23 years) who sustained a mild or moderate TBI during adolescence (i.e. aged 13–17 years at injury), approximately 7.7 years (range = 6.7–8.0 years) prior, participated in the research. Semi-structured individual interviews, analysed using thematic analysis, explored participants’ experiences following their TBIs. Results: Thematic analysis of interview data produced two categories of themes: (1) Impacts on Important Areas of Life, which included: schoolwork suffered, career opportunities became limited, struggling with work and missing out socially; and (2) Impacts on Identity: with themes including feeling ‘stupid’, feeling self-conscious, loss of social identity and being dependent. Conclusions: TBI sustained during adolescence can have broad impacts on important areas of life and on developing identity.

scholarly journals Exosomal MicroRNA Differential Expression in Plasma of Young Adults with Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Healthy Control

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Rany Vorn ◽  
Maiko Suarez ◽  
Jacob C. White ◽  
Carina A. Martin ◽  
Hyung-Suk Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has long-term consequences, such as neurological disability, but its pathophysiological mechanism is unknown. Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRNAs) may be important mediators of molecular and cellular changes involved in persistent symptoms after mTBI. We profiled exosomal microRNAs (exomiRNAs) in plasma from young adults with or without a chronic mTBI to decipher the underlying mechanisms of its long-lasting symptoms after mTBI. We identified 25 significantly dysregulated exomiRNAs in the chronic mTBI group (n = 29, with 4.48 mean years since the last injury) compared to controls (n = 11). These miRNAs are associated with pathways of neurological disease, organismal injury and abnormalities, and psychological disease. Dysregulation of these plasma exomiRNAs in chronic mTBI may indicate that neuronal inflammation can last long after the injury and result in enduring and persistent post-injury symptoms. These findings are useful for diagnosing and treating chronic mTBIs.

Long-term risk of epilepsy after traumatic brain injury in children and young adults: a population-based cohort study

The Lancet ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 373 (9669) ◽  
pp. 1105-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Christensen ◽  
Marianne G Pedersen ◽  
Carsten B Pedersen ◽  
Per Sidenius ◽  
Jørn Olsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Children And Young Adults

Young adults’ perspectives on their psychosocial outcomes 16 years following childhood traumatic brain injury

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rosema ◽  
F. Muscara ◽  
V. Anderson ◽  
C. Godfrey ◽  
S. Eren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Psychosocial Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – Childhood traumatic brain injury (CTBI) is one of the most common causes of mortality and disability in children and adolescents that impacts on neuropsychological, social and psychological development. A disruption of development in these areas often results in long-term problems with interpersonal relationships, participation in leisure and social activities and employment status. These social and psychological problems appear to persist longer in comparison to other functional consequences, although evidence is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to investigate social and psychological outcomes 15 years post-injury. Design/methodology/approach – In all, 36 participants post-CTBI (mean age 21.47 years, SD=2.74), 16 males) and 18 healthy controls (mean age 20.94 years, SD=2.21), 12 males) were recruited from a larger sample of a longitudinal study conducted at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Information about social and psychological functioning was collected via questionnaires completed at 15 years post-injury. Findings – Results showed that post-CTBI, adolescents and young adults reported elevated risk of developing psychological problems following their transition into adulthood. CTBI survivors reported greatest problems on internalizing symptoms such as depression, anxiety and withdrawal. Social implications – Despite the reported psychological symptoms, the survivors of CTBI did not report more social problems than their peers. Further research is needed to identify long-term social and psychological problems so that optimal intervention may be provided. Originality/value – This is the first perspective longitudinal study investigating the young adults perspective of their long-term psychosocial outcomes following CTBI.

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Trauma Surgeon's Perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Oscar D. Guillamondegui
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
The United States ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Injured Brain ◽  
The Moment

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious epidemic in the United States. It affects patients of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status (SES). The current care of these patients typically manifests after sequelae have been identified after discharge from the hospital, long after the inciting event. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of identification and management of the TBI patient from the moment of injury through long-term care as a multidisciplinary approach. By promoting an awareness of the issues that develop around the acutely injured brain and linking them to long-term outcomes, the trauma team can initiate care early to alter the effect on the patient, family, and community. Hopefully, by describing the care afforded at a trauma center and by a multidisciplinary team, we can bring a better understanding to the armamentarium of methods utilized to treat the difficult population of TBI patients.

Prosodic Impairment Associated With Traumatic Brain Injury

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Billy Irwin
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Individual Variations

Abstract Purpose: This article discusses impaired prosody production subsequent to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prosody may affect naturalness and intelligibility of speech significantly, often for the long term, and TBI may result in a variety of impairments. Method: Intonation, rate, and stress production are discussed in terms of the perceptual, physiological, and acoustic characteristics associated with TBI. Results and Conclusions: All aspects of prosodic production are susceptible to the effects of damage resulting from TBI. There are commonly associated prosodic impairments; however, individual variations in specific aspects of prosody require detailed analysis.

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