Keywords

depression, fatigue, longitudinal studies, pain, sleep, traumatic brain injury

 

Authors

  1. Bushnik, Tamara PhD
  2. Englander, Jeffrey MD
  3. Wright, Jerry BA

Abstract

This study used a prospective longitudinal design to quantify fatigue and associated factors during the first 2 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fifty-one individuals were assessed at 3 time points: within the first 6, 12, and 18-24 months after TBI. Self-reported fatigue improved during the first year, as did pain, sleep quality, cognitive independence, and involvement in productive activity. Further changes up to 2 years after TBI were not observed. The subset of individuals who reported significant increases in fatigue over the first 2 years demonstrated poorer outcomes in cognition, motor symptoms, and general functioning than those with decreased or stable fatigue.