Cleveland State Law Review Volume 66 Issue 1 Article 6 12-31-2017 Depression: The Often Overlooked Sequela of Head Trauma Samuel D. Hodge Jr. Temple University Jack E. Hubbard Follow this and additional works at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clevstlrev Part of the Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Disability Law Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Medical Jurisprudence Commons, and the Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Recommended Citation Samuel D. Hodge Jr. and Jack E. Hubbard, Depression: The Often Overlooked Sequela of Head Trauma, 66 Clev. St. L. Rev. 31 (2017) available at https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clevstlrev/vol66/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at EngagedScholarship@CSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Cleveland State Law Review by an authorized editor of EngagedScholarship@CSU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. DEPRESSION: THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED SEQUELA OF HEAD TRAUMA SAMUEL D. HODGE,JR.* &JACK E. HUBBARD** ABSTRACT Depression is a common sequela of head trauma. Approximately half of all individuals with a cranial injury will experience depression within the first year, regardless of the severity of the injury. The ailment is characterized clinically as a mood disorder, often associated with intense feelings of sadness. However, depression is more complex than mood disorders, as many mental and bodily complaints—such as insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, appetite changes, aches and pains, and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities—are associated with depression. These intense feelings, particularly when combined with despair and hopelessness, can lead to suicide, a dreaded potential complication of depression.