An evaluation of neurobehavioural problems as perceived by family members and levels of family stress 1–3 years following traumatic brain injury in Japan

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the proportion of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to a Japanese district hospital and to evaluate the levels of stress and anxiety in families living with those TBI patients. Design: A retrospective study of patients admitted to hospital from April 1995 to March 1997 and a questionnaire study of family members of survivors. Setting and subjects: All patients referred or transferred to the Emergency Department at the Saga Medical School Hospital, Japan with a primary diagnosis of TBI were studied. Family members living with TBI patients were sent questionnaires. Main outcome measures: The Barthel Index, the Patient Competency Rating Scale, the modified Caregiver Strain Index and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: There were 34 patients who required hospitalization for care relating to TBI. Of these, nine family members took part in the questionnaire study. Three carers reported fairly high levels of stress and another three carers were considered to be at risk of anxiety and depression. There was a tendency for family members who reported that patients had difficulties in performing behavioural tasks to have higher levels of stress themselves. Conclusion: These preliminary results showed that family members experienced certain levels of stress and were also at risk of anxiety and depression. The impact of TBI on families as well as patients should receive more attention.