Pharmacological Interventions for Treating Cognitive and Behavioral Impairments Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) occur when a blow to the head results in the alteration of brain functioning. While many people with mild TBI are able to recover within a few weeks, symptoms and impairments can be long-term, lasting months to years, or be lifelong, and millions of individuals around the world live with a permanent TBI-related disability. Some of the more common persistent post concussive symptoms include headaches, depression, fatigue, impaired cognitive functioning, poor memory, attention/concentration difficulties, anxiety, aggression/irritability, difficulty regulating emotions, and sleep disturbances. This literature review examines recent research on various pharmacological treatment options that address the manifestation of TBI symptoms, with emphasis on addressing cognitive and behavioral deficits. Literature suggests that pharmaceutical options are the most widely available treatment for many TBI symptoms, but are often limited in their flexibility, indicating further investigation into a comprehensive treatment is necessary.