Article

Pharmacological management of neurobehavioral disorders following traumatic brain
injury (TBI) is common practice. However, the evidence available to guide this
practice remains sparse. This review summarizes, in brief, the state of
knowledge, organized via a time continuum from injury as well as by symptom
complex. The areas of neuroprotection, hypo-arousal, attention and memory
deficits, aggression, agitation, depression, and mania are reviewed. The
literature was searched with PubMed on the terms "traumatic brain injury" or
"brain injury" with "pharmacology" (and the symptoms according to which this
review is arranged). Additional searches were conducted with the specific
symptoms as search terms, crossed with the therapeutic agents or drug classes
discussed. Where a paucity of prospective data exists, case reports and
retrospective studies are included. Studies to date have yielded minimal positive
evidence for enhancing function, memory, and behavior after TBI. No single agent
likely will become sentinel in the recovery process, and combination therapy in
the acute and postacute settings are required. A need exists to further define
the role of psychopharmacology in postacute TBI medicine and the specific
characteristics of subpopulations who might benefit.

Langue : ANGLAIS