Mental health services and related factors in health care of traumatic brain injury survivors

Background: Family members can be confounded by cognitive and other changes that occur in traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, and feel burdened in providing their nursing care. Factors affecting mental health promotion in caregivers of patients with TBI-induced cognitive dysfunction have not been addressed fully. Objective: To maintain and improve mental health status of caregivers by clarifying the characteristics of TBI survivors and caregivers, and mental health status of caregivers. Methods: On a questionnaire survey, TBI survivors answered questions about their characteristics, activity of daily living, and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, and caregivers answered questions about their characteristics and mental health status. We analyzed the impact of the individual levels of the items for TBI survivors and caregivers on the caregivers' mental health status. Results: The mean General Health Questionnaire 30-item score was 14.8 ± 7.6 points, and mental illness was confirmed in 47 (75.8%) caregivers. The mental health status of the caregivers was more undermined when the nursing care period and sleep time of caregivers were short, when care was required for cosmetic preparation and dressing, and when the patient had symptoms of impaired executive dysfunction and social behavior.