Satisfaction of life and late psycho-social outcome after severe brain injury: a nine-year follow-up study in Aquitaine.

In view of assessing their late outcome and satisfaction of life, 79 out of 158 severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) patients who received inpatient rehabilitation in Aquitaine in 1993 were followed by phone interview. Results showed that 9 years on average after their injury, 65 to 85% of these patients were independent for daily living, whereas 35 to 55% only were independent in social life. Most of the patients were satisfied with their autonomy (67%), family life (66%) and financial status (41%), but they were dissatisfied with leisures (36%), vocational adjustment (28%) and sexual life (32%). Satisfaction of life was mostly related to age, gender, physical autonomy, need of help because of cognitive impairment and functional outcome as assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) stands in industrialised countries as a major Public Health problem and a dreadful human drama for the patients, their families and the community [2]. A great number of STBI patients survive with severe disability, most of them being young adults. The most severely impaired may live only with their parents or in high-cost nursing homes. From a psychological point of view, STBI causes a total and sudden breakdown of the mental states, personality and conditions of life. Life plans and projects are definitively disrupted, satisfaction of life is deeply changed. Rehabilitation aims at improving functional outcome of persons with STBI, and at improving their overall quality of life. Planning for rehabilitation and re-entry into community of STBI patients need to be provided with precise data on their late outcome and disability level. Despite that the concepts of quality and satisfaction of life are difficult to define and moreover to assess, these are also major factors to take into account. The aims of the present study were to assess the late psycho-social outcome of patients hospitalized in Aquitaine for rehabilitation of a STBI 7 to 10 years after their injury, and to ask for their satisfaction of life and subjective feeling of quality of life.

[Life satisfaction and psychosocial outcome in severe traumatic brain injuries in Aquitaine]. / Satisfaction de vie et devenir psychosocial des traumatisés crâniens graves en Aquitaine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess late outcome and satisfaction of life of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients who received inpatient rehabilitation in Aquitaine. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Seventy-nine consecutive patients out of the 158 who were hospitalized for rehabilitation in 1993 were asked for in 2000 by a phone interview including standardised scales and free talk as well. RESULTS: The results showed that nine years on average after their injury, 65 to 85% of patients were independent for daily living, whereas 35 to 55% only were independent in social life. Most of them were satisfied with their autonomy (67%), family life (66%) and financial status (41%), but they were dissatisfied with leisure (36%), vocational adjustment (28%) and sexual life (32%). CONCLUSION: Return to work, leisure and sexuality are major parameters of satisfaction of life after a severe TBI, and should be emphasized in goal-directed rehabilitation programs.