The Combined Effect of Anxiety and Substance Use on Quality of Life in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients
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Date
2024-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Background: Behavioral health disorders are common in traumatic brain injury (TBI) populations, with anxiety and substance use disorders being among the most common. Treatment research that investigates interventions that target, in tandem, anxiety and substance use are promising for populations without traumatic brain injury.
Objective: To determine if quality of life at two years post-injury is predicted by anxiety and problematic use of substances at one-year post-TBI, separately and in combination. The study is being conducted to better inform treatment research for TBI populations as to whether anxiety and problematic use of substances should be more closely examined and treated together in TBI patients.
Measures: Problem Substance Use (based on TBI Model Systems questions on substance use), GAD-7, SF-12
Participants: Two hundred and one participants with complete data drawn from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) study.
Design: Regression analysis
Results: The results of our regression analysis revealed that there was not a significant association between the combination of moderate-severe anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) and Problem Substance Use, and SF-12 Mental and Physical Component scores (MCS, PCS). However, moderate-severe anxiety symptoms alone were a significant predictor for the SF-12 mental component score. Age was a significant predictor of the MCS, and sex as well as FIM cognitive predicted PCS.
Discussion: These findings support the idea that anxiety is an important consideration in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with TBI, as well as their sex, age, and independent functioning. Further research into treatments that predominantly consider these variables is recommended to give patients the best quality of life outcomes as possible.
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Keywords
Traumatic Brain Injury, Substance Use, Anxiety, Quality of Life