Predictors of longitudinal depression trajectories after traumatic brain injury in Latin America: A multi-site study

Issue title: Neuropsychological and psychological applications in neurorehabilitation

Guest editors: Vivian Begali

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cariello, Anna N.^a | Perrin, Paul B.^a | Agudelo, Yaneth Rodriguez^b | Olivera Plaza, Silvia Leonor^c | Quijano-Martínez, Maria Cristina^d | Trujillo, Michael A.^e | Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos^{f; g; h; *}

Affiliations: [a] Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA | [b] Department of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico | [c] Universidad Sur Colombiana, Neiva, Huila, Colombia | [d] Departartment of Social Sciencies, Pontificia University of Javeriana Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia | [e] University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA | [f] BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital Barakaldo, Barakaldo, Spain | [g] IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain | [h] Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Juan Carlos Arango Lasprilla, Ph.D., Grupo de Psicología y Salud, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, IKERBASQUE. Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza de Cruces s/n. 48903, Barakaldo. Bizkaia, Spain. E-mail: jcalasprilla@gmail.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Latin America has exceptionally high rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but very little research has been conducted on longitudinal TBI outcomes in this global region. OBJECTIVE:This study examined whether cognitive dysfunction and social disadaptation in individuals with TBI in Latin America at hospital discharge predict longitudinal trajectories of depression at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months. METHODS:A sample of 109 people with a new TBI was recruited from three hospitals: Mexico City, Mexico, Cali, Colombia and Neiva, Colombia. Participants completed measures of cognitive dysfunction and social disadaptation before hospital discharge and measures of depression at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months. RESULTS:Results suggested that depression scores were found to decrease over time in a quadratic (or U-shaped) fashion, and more significant cognitive dysfunction at hospital discharge was associated with higher longitudinal depression trajectories. Social disadaptation did not exert a unique effect on depression trajectories after controlling for cognitive dysfunction. Depression trajectories changed differentially over time as a function of baseline cognitive dysfunction, such that for those with high cognitive impairment, depression scores started high and then dropped to a moderated range and plateaued, but for individuals with low cognitive dysfunction, depression scores started lower and decreased linearly but moderately. CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest a strong need for neuropsychological assessments and evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation strategies to be implemented immediately after TBI in Latin America, which could exert salubrious effects on depression trajectories over time.

Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, caregivers, depression, Latin America, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-192972

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 205-212, 2020