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Brain hemorrhage

Psychiatric Disorders After Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage: A 10-Year Follow-Up

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— 1 min read

A significant number of patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) experience psychiatric disorders, including those without prior psychiatric history. According to a 10-year follow-up study, approximately 17% of patients with tICH developed psychiatric disorders, with 72% of these cases being new. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, found that younger patients were more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, and those with prior psychiatric medication and lower admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were more likely to receive subsequent psychiatric treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study assessed the prevalence and treatment of psychiatric disorders in 385 patients with tICH over a 10-year follow-up period.
  • Approximately 17% of patients with tICH developed psychiatric disorders, with 72% of these cases being new.
  • Younger patients (mean age 49.1 years) were more likely to develop psychiatric disorders compared to older patients (mean age 63.1 years).
  • Patients with prior psychiatric medication and lower admission GCS scores were more likely to receive subsequent psychiatric treatment.
  • Every sixth patient treated in a tertiary level neurosurgical unit had psychiatric disorders diagnosed at secondary level care after tICH.
  • Over half of patients with psychiatric disorders received secondary level psychiatric care.
  • The study found that the development of psychiatric disorders after tICH was associated with younger age, while prior psychiatric medication and lower admission GCS score were associated with subsequent psychiatric treatment.

Statistics:

  • 385 patients with tICH were assessed over a 10-year follow-up period.
  • 66 (17.1%) patients with tICH developed psychiatric disorders during the follow-up period.
  • 48 (72.1%) patients with psychiatric disorders experienced new disorders after tICH.
  • 526 (53.0%) patients received secondary level psychiatric care.
  • 40 (60.6%) patients initiated new psychotropics.
  • The median time to initiation of psychotropics was 8 months (IQR 40 months).
  • The median time to onset of psychiatric disorders was 29.5 months (IQR 64 months).
  • Patients with psychiatric disorders were significantly younger (49.1 years) compared to those without psychiatric disorders (63.1 years).
  • Patients with psychiatric disorders were more likely to have intracranial hemorrhages (21.2% vs. 44.2%, p = 0.001).

Sources:

  • Acta Neurochirurgica
  • "Psychiatric disorders after traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: the HEAD Helsinki study" (2025)
  • University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital
  • NewsRx
  • "Recent Findings from University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital Has Provided New Data on Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (Psychiatric disorders after traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: the HEAD Helsinki study)" (2025)

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