This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on TBI and Depression. Dr. Jesse Fann discusses How Prevalent Is Depression?

Depression or major depression is significantly more common after traumatic brain injury than in the general population. For example, in the year following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, about half the people will have an episode of major depression. And this is compared to only about 7 percent in the general population over a one-year period.

So, about seven to eight times more frequent after a traumatic brain injury. And then as you go out further even seven to eight years out, up to about two-thirds of people with traumatic brain injury will have developed a major depression. And as a comparison, about 15 to 20 percent of the general population in their lifetime will have suffered a major depressive episode. So, you can see how common it is after brain injury compared to the general population.

Visit https://msktc.org/tbi and get the answers you need from experts who conduct innovative and high-quality research, provide patient care, and work to improve the health and overall quality of life for people with traumatic brain injury. That’s https://msktc.org/tbi.