| Title: | Depression is both a risk factor for and outcome from traumatic brain injury in UK Biobank (N = 502,356) |
| Journal: | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Published: | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41833613/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121629 |
Publication 17393
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a known risk factor for poorer later-life outcomes and earlier mortality, but its association with psychological health is less well-characterized. We tested for associations between TBI and depression, each ascertained multiple ways, and in opposing directions (depression predicting TBI; TBI predicting depression).</p>
METHODS: Using UK Biobank data (N = 502,356) we investigated bi-directional associations between TBI (ICD-10 coded broad- or narrow-band TBI) and depression (self-report and/or incident ICD-10 coded). We tested this in each direction: baseline historic TBI predicting the incidence of subsequent depression and, separately, baseline depression predicting the incidence of a first subsequent TBI. All analyses were adjusted for age at UK Biobank baseline assessment, sex, educational attainment, deprivation, smoking history, alcohol intake, physical and neurological health conditions.</p>
RESULTS: In participants with history of TBI (versus not), there was increased risk of subsequent incident depression, compared with participants with no documented TBI history (e.g. narrow-band TBI fully-adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.18 risk of depression; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.87 to 2.55; P < 0.001). In the other direction there was evidence that people with history of lifetime depression had significantly increased risk of subsequent incident TBI (e.g. HR = 1.76 of narrow-band TBI, 95% CI = 1.61 to 1.94, P < 0.001).</p>
CONCLUSION: We show significant associations between TBI and depression: depression was a risk factor for subsequent TBI in previously undiagnosed participants, but also vice-versa. Psychological support should be considered post-TBI, however clinical management should consider premorbid psychological health as a possible contributing factor.</p>
6 Authors
- Mia Mantyla
- Emma Russell
- Xingxing Zhu
- Thomas McCabe
- William Stewart
- Donald M Lyall
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 17689 | Genetic, environmental and lifestyle predictors of brain/cognitive-related outcomes. |
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