Depression Often Follows Head Injury

People who sustain head injuries are at a high risk for depression new research shows. An alarming 33 percent of patients who suffered head injury in a study developed a "major depressive disorder" within one year. These patients were also found to have sustained changes to their brain structure.

Dr Huw Williams, from Exeter University, told BBC News Online that doctors were becoming increasingly aware of the mental problems faced by head injury patients even after the physical side of their injury had disappeared.

He said: "This backs up what other studies have been saying about depression and head injuries. There is a very high rate.

"It reinforces the importance of good neuro-rehab after this kind of injury. Both the NHS and organisations such as Headway have a big role to play in helping people in this situation."

Read more: Head injury linked to depression