In Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Is Treating the “Psychiatric” or the “Neuro” Aspect More Important?

Addressing mood or anxiety issues may improve these patients' quality of life.

In patients with difficult-to-treat neuropsychiatric disorders, treatment often focuses on “neurological” symptoms — e.g., cognitive or physical symptoms in traumatic brain injury (TBI) or number of seizures in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Two recent studies analyze the role of depression in these patients' symptoms and quality of life (QOL).

Researchers have found that depression can impair neuropsychological test performance in TBI patients (JW Psychiatry Apr 20 2005). The same research team now examines the influence of depression on postconcussion symptoms in 200 patients with mild-to-moderate TBI (mean age, 37). Participants completed a questionnaire on postconcussion symptoms and a psychiatric diagnostic interview. Ninety-…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

In Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Is Treating the “Psychiatric” or the “Neuro” Aspect More Important?

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Reviewing Author