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Abstract
A review of recent research addressed two questions: how common are problems of substance
abuse in traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to what extent does alcohol and other drug
use mediate outcome? Studies showed alcohol intoxication present in one third to one
half of hospitalizations; data for other drug intoxication were not available. Nearly
two thirds of rehabilitation patients may have a history of substance abuse that preceded
their injuries. Intoxication was related to acute complications, longer hospital stays,
and poorer discharge status; however, these relationships may have been caused by
colinearity with history. History of substance abuse showed the same morbidity, and
was further associated with higher mortality rates, poorer neuropsychological outcome,
and greater likelihood of repeat injuries and late deterioration. The effect of history
may be caused by subgroups with more severe substance abuse problems. Implications
for rehabilitation are discussed, including the potential negative impact of untreated
substance abuse on the ability to document efficacy of rehabilitation efforts.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
August 10,
1994
Received:
April 12,
1994
Footnotes
Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by grant H 235L20001 from the US Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to the Ohio Valley Center for Head Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organizations with which the authors are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc.
