A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be among the most serious injuries a person can sustain. According to the findings of a recent study, the potential long-term complications of a TBI may include an increased risk of suicide. There are many possible causes of brain injuries, including motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall incidents, construction accidents, and sports accidents, just to name a few. Elder neglect is another possibility.
Latest research on concussions
Researchers from Canada and the U.S. did a meta-analysis review of studies on concussions and brain injuries. All 17 of the studies included in the analysis had been published after 1963. In total, the review analyzed data from over 700,000 patients who had a TBI diagnosis. The control group consisted of 6.2 million patients who did not have a brain injury diagnosis.
The researchers’ findings indicated that patients with a history of TBI had a two-fold increased risk of engaging in suicidal behavior, attempting suicide, or reporting suicidal thoughts. It’s possible that multiple concussions on the same patient may increase the risk further. However, the researchers’ findings on this matter were inconclusive.
This meta-analysis review is just one of the recent studies to examine the link between concussions and suicide. A study published in August 2018 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) also concluded that patients with a history of brain injuries had double the risk of suicide.
In that study, conducted by researchers from Denmark, the data from over 34,000 individuals were examined. The data revealed that, among people with no history of TBIs, the absolute suicide rate was 20 per 100,000 person-years. Among people with a history of brain injuries, the absolute suicide rate was 41 per 100,000 person-years.
Other serious complications of concussions and brain injuries
As alarming as this research may be, it’s only the tip of the iceberg regarding the potential complications of concussions and traumatic brain injuries. A moderate to severe TBI may result in convulsions or seizures, coma, and persistent headaches. Some survivors display unusual behavior and personality changes, including aggressive or combative behavior. It’s also possible to suffer from long-term cognitive problems, intellectual disabilities, and communication impairments.
If the brain injury also resulted in cranial nerve damage, the patient may suffer from the paralysis of the facial muscles, loss of vision or double vision, and dizziness. Hearing loss, loss or altered sense of taste, and swallowing problems are other possible complications of TBIs.
Find a Los Angeles brain injury lawyer today
For two decades, injured individuals in southern California have relied on the Salamati Law Firm to provide sound legal guidance and vigorous representation, both in and out of the courtroom. If you or a loved one has sustained a TBI in a slip and fall incident, car crash, or similar accident, you can benefit from a free case review with our traumatic brain injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Our results-oriented approach may enable you to recover compensation from a negligent party. Call 1-855-336-1703 today or email us at [email protected].
Additional resources on traumatic brain injuries:
- JAMA Neurology, Association of Concussion With the Risk of SuicideA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2712851
- JAMA, Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Suicide, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2697009
