Outcome after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury: the role of dizziness.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the specific effect of dizziness on psychosocial outcome after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).

DESIGN:

Six-month cross-sectional study. Setting An outpatient TBI clinic in a tertiary care referral center. Participants A consecutive sample of 207 adults with mild to moderate TBI, 138 (66.7%) of whom had subjective complaint of posttraumatic dizziness.

INTERVENTIONS:

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Psychosocial indices (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS], General Health Questionnaire [GHQ], Rivermead Head Injury Follow-Up Questionnaire [RHFUQ], return to work status) were collected from dizzy and nondizzy patients.

RESULTS:

Despite similar demographic, TBI, and global disability (GOS) profiles of both groups, psychosocial functioning (GHQ, RHFUQ, return to work) was significantly worse in dizzy subjects ( P <.01 for all indices). A logistic regression analysis identified dizziness ( P =.006), total GHQ ( P =.001), and psychotropic and analgesic use ( P =.05) as significant independent predictors of reemployment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although dizziness was closely linked to psychologic distress at 6 months after head injury, it also emerged as an independent predictor of failure to return to work, suggesting that not all its adverse effects on outcome are psychologically mediated. Clinicians need to be alert to the presence of dizziness as an adverse prognostic indicator after mild to moderate TBI.

• Authors: Laury Chamelian, Anthony Feinstein
• Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil) Vol. 85 Issue 10 Pg. 1662-6 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0003-9993 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15468028 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Psychotropic Drugs

Topics

• Adult
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Brain Injuries (complications)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Employment
• Female
• Health Status Indicators
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care
• Post-Concussion Syndrome (etiology, physiopathology, psychology)
• Psychotropic Drugs (therapeutic use)
• Recovery of Function (physiology)