Sertraline to improve arousal and alertness in severe traumatic brain injury secondary to motor vehicle crashes

Objective: To establish whether or not the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline can improve arousal and alertness of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and associated diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Serotonin is a major inhibitory as well an excitatory neurotransmitter, and serotonergic neurons modulate the activity of brain regions responsible for motor control, arousal, attention, and emotional regulation. Setting: Tertiary care inpatient rehabilitation centre directly attached to a university hospital level-one trauma centre. Design: Prospective placebo-controlled randomized trial utilizing sertraline on admission to acute rehabilitation. Data set