Severe traumatic brain injury: non-military patients’ essential need for behavioural healthcare

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex head injury caused mostly by accidents. TBIs are a chronic disease process requiring life-long evaluations. A man in his mid-20s was transported to a medical level 1 trauma centre after a car accident; diagnosed with a severe TBI and Glasgow Coma Scale score of 4. During rehabilitation, he regained speech, motor coordination, bilateral strength, with vision correction via prism lenses and learnt to compensate for short-term memory loss. However, he exhibited anxiety and depression (neuropsychological examination) that were not addressed during his recovery. Barriers included his culture and healthcare disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, psychotherapy/counselling was not offered to promote emotional and holistic recovery to manage the impact of severe TBI on his life. These care barriers highlight the importance of ensuring TBI care models address the psychological/emotional distress of patients and empower families to participate in the cognitive, physical and psychological healing of the patient.