Summarized by: Riya Patel, MD
June 2025
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when there is a strong force applied to the head. The resulting injury can cause mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, negatively impacting a TBI patient’s daily living and overall quality of life.
The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation’s article “Evidence-Based Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Interventions for Mental Health Management Post-Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury” delved into both medication and non-medication treatments for moderate to severe TBI patients experiencing resulting mental health problems after injury. The article reviewed 87 randomized controlled trials with a total of 6471 TBI patients, all published between 1988 and 2022.
They found that medications, such as cerebrolysin and desipramine, were effective in improving depressive symptoms within TBI patients. Other medication therapies, such as methylphenidate, rivastigmine, and melatonin, showed conflicting results in improving mood and anxiety. Non-medication therapies included cognitive behavior therapy, which helped patients with anxiety symptoms and feelings of hopelessness. It also showed equal effectiveness in treating post-TBI depression as supportive psychotherapy. Acceptance and commitment therapy also demonstrated effectiveness for anxiety and depression. Moreover, physical activity treatments, such as dance, walking, and Tai Chi, were shown to help with mood and depressive symptoms.
In conclusion, it is important to consider both medication and non-medication treatments for mental health problems post-TBI and discuss with healthcare professionals about which would be best for them, factoring in time, resources, and goals of care.
For more information, view the article: https://journals.lww.com/headtraumarehab/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2024&issue=09000&article=00003&type=Fulltext
