The present investigation aims to show which specific difficulties are repo
rted with greater frequency in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients than i
n controls, and in hetero-assessment than in self-assessment. Ninety-seven
patients with severe TBI were compared to 97 controls matched for age and g
ender. The 63-item European Brain Injury Questionnaire (EBIQ) was completed
by patients, close relatives and controls. A principal component analysis
showed three main factors: 'depressive mood', 'cognitive difficulties', and
'difficulties in social interactions'. Relatives scored higher than patien
ts for items concerning the three domains. Patients scored higher than cont
rols for 'depressive mood' and 'cognitive difficulties', but not for 'diffi
culties in social interactions', which included items related to both self-
assertion and lack of self-control. After TBI, emotional problems and, espe
cially, depressive mood associated to cognitive difficulties have an import
ant impact in everyday life and family functioning. Difficulties in social
interactions are not specific of TBI patients.