Two people talking while another person is left out of the conversation

What is the study about?

This study examined: (1) resilience in a group of patients who were post-acute TBI and (2) the relationship between resilience and psychological health. Resilience has been found to correlate with psychological wellness and adaptive coping to a variety of physically and psychologically traumatic situations, including chronic illness, diabetes, cancer, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

What did the study find?

Researchers found that their sample was similar to other studies reporting on TBI with respect to adjustment, ability and participation. Resilience is generally lower in individuals with TBI as compared with the general population. Low scores for resilience correlate with psychological distress and psychosocial maladjustment. Researchers suggest that resilience be incorporated in treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with TBI. A resilience framework incorporates a strengths-based approach that targets skills development to improve well-being.

Who participated in the study?

Ninety-six adult survivors with mild to severe TBI participated in an ongoing study to promote resilience and adjustment. Participants were self-referred or referred by professionals. 64% of the sample incurred a mild TBI and 36% incurred a moderate/severe TBI. Mild TBI was defined using the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine criteria. Patients with moderate/severe TBI had the following criteria: loss of consciousness of more than 30 minutes; Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or less; intracranial pressure sustained at 24 hours or more; or provision of neurosurgical procedure. Participants demonstrating active substance abuse/dependence or eminent danger of psychiatric hospitalization were excluded.

How was the study conducted?

Patients answered four questionnaires: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC, assesses level of resilience); the Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 (MPAI-4, assess characteristics of adaptability and functioning); the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18, quantifies psychological distress); and a questionnaire to obtain demographic and psychosocial information. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were used to assess for relationships between the CD-RISC-10 Total Score; MPAI-4 Ability, Adjustment, and Participation T-scores; and BSI-18 Somatic, Depression, Anxiety, and GSI Tscores. Analysis showed that those with higher resilience scores experienced fewer difficulties with adaptability and psychological distress. Lower resilience scores were associated with higher rates of psychological distress.

Reference

Lukow, H.R., Godwin, E.E., Marwitz, J.H., Mills, A., Hsu, N.H., Kreutzer, J.S. (2015). Relationship between resilience, adjustment, and psychological functioning after TBI: A preliminary report. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.

The contents of this quick review were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0012-01-00). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of Department of Health and Human Services, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.