HHS HealthBeat (May 30, 2012)

Medical decision-making after a traumatic brain injury

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

People who’ve had traumatic brain injury might not be thinking straight but still may have to make crucial medical decisions.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham tested 86 TBI patients’ ability to understand medical options, decide on treatments, and appreciate consequences of their choices.

One month after injury, patients with moderate or severe TBI – and some with mild TBI – still had impaired decision making skills.   

Researcher Daniel Marson:

“Even patients with mild injuries really depend to some degree on family members assisting them and guiding them, even if the patients still are able to make the decisions themselves.”

The study in the journal Neurology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 30, 2012