But what about TBI Depression? While the prevalence of depression is around 5-10% in the general population, this figure increases significantly to 50% of people within a year of them experiencing TBI. They can experience severe changes in mood, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating, even after receiving an all clear from their doctor.
The STOP-D Trial - Sertraline TO prevent Post-TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Depression – aims to prescribe a commonly used antidepressant at the earliest possible moment following a TBI to see if TBI Depression can be prevented.
Sertraline is a well-researched and commonly prescribed anti-depressant. Usually, sertraline and antidepressants are prescribed once a patient experiences symptoms of depression such as long-lasting low mood, loss of interest in daily activities and hobbies, and irregular sleep. Once these symptoms are experienced, it can negatively affect other areas of life like work, school, or relationships.
This multi-centre, placebo controlled, double blind, randomised controlled trial will prescribe sertraline preventatively in a pre-emptive to stop symptoms of depression manifesting.
Potential participants include:
- Adults aged 18 years and above
- UK residents
- Mild or moderate-severe TBI
- No diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
Patients will be recruited through A&E departments, neurosurgery, and trauma wards at 10 sites in England. The patients will take the medication for up to 12 months. During these 12 months, patients will be visited by the research team to complete various questionnaires about their mood and any symptoms they may be experiencing. Researchers will also take blood and saliva samples for future biomarker profiling. These biomarkers will allow researchers to further understand the severity and prognoses of TBI.
STOP-D is a £2.2 million NIHR funded trial running in 10 major trauma centres across England, with King’s College Hospital as the lead site. The STOP-D trial is a collaboration between neuropsychiatrists and neurosurgeons across the country, forming our team of experts. Sponsored by King’s College London, STOP-D will be the largest study to date for the primary prevention of post-TBI depression. The trial’s multi-centre design aims to capture the rich socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural and geographical diversity across England.
Once the trial is completed, the findings will be shared in medical journals, on social media and with leaders in the NHS to develop TBI and depression management across major trauma centres across the UK.
Read more about STOP-D on the BBC here.
Find out more about STOP-D through the trial webpage here.