Depression amongst outpatients with traumatic brain injury

The incidence of depression and its association with subject characteristic s in outpatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were investigated. Logis tic regression was estimated with depressed/not-depressed as the dependent variable in 41 outpatients with TBI who filled out the Beck Depression Inve ntory-II (BDI-II). Twenty-four of 41 subjects (59%) scored in the depressed categories based on BDI-II scores >13. Fourteen (34%) scored in the modera te or severe depression categories (BDI >19). Logistic regression demonstra ted a positive relationship amongst depression and age, female gender, mild TBI, and use of antidepressant and stimulant drugs; and a negative relatio nship between depression and violent aetiology of injury. ANOVA demonstrate d that individuals with mild TBI were significantly older than those with m oderate or severe TBI, which might account for the association between depr ession and age. The implications of these results are discussed.