Anxiety and depression symptoms in relatives of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury survivors — A multicentre cohort

• Published in: Anaesthesia critical care & pain medicine 2023-10, Vol.42 (5), p.101232-101232, Article 101232
• Main Authors: Cinotti, Raphaël, Chopin, Alice, Moyer, Jean Denis, Huet, Olivier, Lasocki, Sigismond, Cohen, Benjamin, Dahyot-Fizelier, Claire, Chalard, Kevin, Seguin, Philippe, Martin, Florian Pierre, Lerebourg, Céline, Guitteny, Marie, Chenet, Amandine, Perrouin-Verbe, Brigitte, Asehnoune, Karim, Feuillet, Fanny, Sébille, Véronique, Roquilly, Antoine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Depression; HADS; Human health and pathology; Life Sciences; Post-intensive care syndrome; Relatives; Traumatic brain injury
• ISSN: 2352-5568; 2352-5568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.accpm.2023.101232

The prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression symptoms in relatives of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors have not been thoroughly investigated. Ancillary study of a multicentric prospective randomized-controlled trial in nine university hospitals in 370 moderate-to-severe TBI patients. TBI survivor-relative dyads were included in the 6th month of follow-up. Relatives responded to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The primary endpoints were the prevalence of severe symptoms of anxiety (HADS-Anxiety ≥ 11) and depression (HADS-Depression ≥ 11) in relatives. We explored the risk factors of severe anxiety and depression symptoms. Relatives were predominantly women (80.7%), spouse-husband (47.7%), or parents (39%). Out of the 171 dyads included, 83 (50.6%) and 59 (34.9%) relatives displayed severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. Severe anxiety symptoms in relatives were independently associated with the patient’s discharge at home (OR 2.57, 95%CI [1.04–6.37]) and the patient’s higher SF-36 Mental Health domain scores (OR 1.03 95%CI [1.01–1.05]). Severe depression symptoms were independently associated with a lower SF-36 Mental Health domain score (OR = 0.98 95%CI [0.96−1.00]). No ICU organization characteristics were associated with psychological symptoms in relatives. There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among relatives of moderate-to-severe TBI survivors at 6 months. Anxiety and depression were inversely correlated with the patient’s mental health status at 6 months. Long-term follow-up must provide psychological care to relatives after TBI.