Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can lead to lifelong disability and require long-term medical care. While drugs and surgery can treat TBI, new research suggests that experiencing discrimination may hinder recovery.
We know that discrimination causes psychological distress, which can lead to downstream health problems. People with TBI are especially at risk for discrimination, as those from minoritized communities are more likely to sustain a TBI. What’s more, TBIs can cause disabilities that are subject to discrimination.
Rehabilitation researcher Umesh Venkatesan, PhD, and colleagues surveyed how often people with moderate and severe TBI felt discriminated against for any reason, related or unrelated to their injury.
The study’s results showed that TBI patients who experienced discrimination measured higher on scales of anxiety and depression, showed more behavioral problems like poor self-regulation and even reported worse quality of life.
“It makes it particularly important that we study these social factors and experiences in our patients,” says Dr. Venkatesan. “Because social issues like discrimination may have been negatively influencing their whole lives, there’s no reason to believe these factors are going to stop influencing their health after the brain injury. If anything, the injury might make tough situations worse.”
