Quality of life 10 years after a very severe traumatic brain injury (TBI): the perspective of the injured and the closest relative

This study is a further follow-up of a group of 15 very severely injured TBI patients who have earlier been followed-up 5 years after the injury, and their closest relatives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors related to the quality of life of the injured and the strain felt by the relatives. The information was gathered by questionnaires for the injured and the relative and clinical ratings based on the observations of a clinician. The self-reported quality of life of both the injured and their closest relatives was rather high in spite of the various physical, cognitive and emotional/behavioural disturbances. However, the strain felt by many of the relatives was still high 10 years after the injury although it had decreased over the years. The neurobehavioural and emotional disturbances had the most significant effect on the quality of life of the injured and strain felt by the relative. The relationship between the quality of life of the injured and strain felt by the relative was not linear. The implications of the findings for developing different forms of rehabilitation and support systems is discussed.