8. Mental Health Issues Post ABI

Although mood is an internal subjective state, it is often inferred from our posture, behaviours, or our ability and the way we chose to express ourselves. Mood disorders such as agitation, major depression, and various anxiety disorders (post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are all common following an acquired brain injury and are associated with suffering, worsening of other ABI sequelae, and poorer outcomes (Jorge & Starkstein, 2005; Jorge, 2005; Berthier et al., 2001). PTSD has been studied quite extensively with those who sustain a mild ABI but not with those who sustain moderate or severe ABIs, thus is has not been included in this chapter.