Brain Injuries Lead to Sleep Problems, Depression

Brain injuries leave patients with a range of health complications that can range from chronic headaches and fatigue to, according to a new study, depression.

A study conducted by Australian researchers has found that people who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury produce smaller amounts of melatonin. This could possibly cause sleep disorders. The researchers performed sleep experiments on 23 Traumatic Brain Injury patients. These patients were compared with a control group of healthy people. The researchers found that

• Healthy people produced more melatonin than people with brain injuries during the evening time
• Patients with a brain injury spent less time in bed actually asleep.
• Patients with a brain injury spent more time in non-REM sleep.
• Patients with a brain injury were more likely to suffer from exactly depression.

The reduced ability to sleep in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury seems to contribute to feelings of depression. The researchers believe that there need to be studies to determine whether using melatonin supplements could help people with a TBI sleep better. This could not only take care of their sleep problems, but also alleviate symptoms of depression. Doctors have always known that brain injury patients suffer from depression, but so far there has been no concrete evidence about the physiological reasons for this.

Brain injuries occur often in the workplace or during maritime accidents. They may be caused when workers are struck by falling objects or vessels, or by objects that fall off from loads that are being lifted. Workers may be struck by power tools from elevated work platforms or construction scaffolding. Brain injuries also occur during falls.

There is very little that can be done to reverse brain injury after one has occurred, but doctors may be able to prevent further damage if the patient is rushed into a hospital immediately. Workers who suffer from a brain injury could be looking at a long and stressful recovery period.

The longshore lawyers at Schechter McElwee Shaffer & Harris represent injured longshoremen, harbor workers, port workers, barge and tug cleaning crews, and other maritime workers in Texas and worldwide.