Irritability following traumatic brain injury

This study was undertaken to identify the clinical and pathoanatomical corr elates of irritability in patients with closed head injuries. A consecutive series of 66 patients was assessed in hospital and at 3, 6, 9, and 12-mont h follow-ups. Patients fulfilling criteria for irritability were divided in to 2 groups based on the immediate or delayed onset of their irritability a nd compared with patients without irritability for background characteristi cs, impairment variables, and lesion characteristics. There were IZ patient s (18.2%) with acute onset irritability and 10 (15.1%) with delayed onset i rritability. Acute onset irritability patients had a higher frequency of le ft cortical lesions. Delayed onset irritability patients showed a strong as sociation with poor social functioning and greater impairment in activities of daily Living. The findings suggest that post-brain injury irritability may have different causes and treatment in the acute and chronic stages.