For many years there has been a question over whether anxiety and depression can be caused by a traumatic brain injury, or whether it is something which simply forms on its own. Many studies have gone into answering this question, and whilst there is no denying that many patients develop anxiety and depression with no apparent history of a brain trauma, there are equally as many who show signs and symptoms following an injury.

Immediately after an injury there is likely to be concussion treatment put in place, and whilst this is adequate and solves the problem at the time, there is always the question of further effects in the future.

A study undertaken by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has raised definite questions about whether anxiety and depression can be caused by a traumatic brain injury, and the information gathered from the study seems to point towards a ‘yes’ vote, showing that post-concussion depression and anxiety could be down to an injury to the white matter within the brain.

The study gathered together 45 patients, all having suffered a concussion; 38 of these patients were showing signs of irritability, 32 with depression, and 18 with anxiety. The results were then compared to 29 separate patients who had also suffered a concussion, but were not displaying any particular signs of a neuropsychiatric problem.

The results were startling.

The depression patients showed completely different white matter injury patterns to the anxiety patients, however no particular correlation was shown with the group displaying signs of irritability.

Those patients with depression symptoms showed a decrease in fractional anisotropy in the area near the deep gray matter, however those patients with signs of anxiety showed a decrease in fractional anisotropy in the vermis, an area of the brain which is associated with fear response.

What does all this mean?

Basically, the results from this particular study show that targeted treatment could in the future be developed to focus in a more tailor-made way, and also gives valuable information in helping professionals understand the effects of anxiety and depression following a traumatic brain injury. The question is also whether those patients who don’t seem to have a history of such an injury, but are still suffering from anxiety and depression, could have developed these conditions as a result of an injury in the distant past, which contributed to the development at the present time. This is obviously a question which needs further research to answer, however the information from this particular study is certainly valuable.

Whilst the brain is a very complex and hard to understand part of the body, such studies make great leaps forward. If you are at all worried about the after effects of a concussion, or traumatic brain injury, then don’t hesitate to call the Eastern Brain Centre on 03 8652 1628 to schedule an appointment now, and discuss your particular situation, symptoms, and concerns with a member of our highly skilled team.