Neuropsychiatric disorders after severe traumatic brain injury: An overview

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common sequelae of severe traumatic brain injury, and many variables (e.g., brain injury characteristics and its severity, post-injury person variables, pre-morbid person variables, and environmental variables) have been explored to account for the differential development and expression of such symptoms. Some important methodological issues should be considered: diagnostic classification limitations, limited applicability of traditional diagnostic tools, and influence of neurological and cognitive symptoms and impaired self-awareness, which complicates the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms. The main symptoms and a brief consideration of possible non-pharmacological interventions, based both on the therapeutic alliance and considering the important role of caregivers, will be addressed.