Women are nearly 50% more likely than men to develop depression after suffering a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to an analysis of nine studies and nearly 700,000 people presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2023 annual meeting.
“Most studies showing the link between TBI and depression have focused on men. Our study represents the highest-quality evidence to date that a patient’s gender influences the risk of depression after traumatic brain injury.” Isaac G. Freedman, M.D., MPH, lead author of the study and anesthesiology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
About 1.5 million Americans suffer a TBI every year, which can lead to long-term health effects such as memory loss and behavioral changes. Common causes of TBI in men include being struck in the head by an object, being in a motor vehicle accident, self-harm (such as from a gun) and assault. In women, common causes include falls and intimate partner violence.
