Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

OVERVIEW: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can have a profoundly negative effect on the injured person's quality of life, producing cognitive, physical, and psychological symptoms; impeding postinjury family reintegration; creating psychological distress among family members; and often having deleterious effects on spousal and parental relationships. This article reviews the most commonly reported signs and symptoms of mTBI, explores the condition's effects on both patient and family, and provides direction for developing nursing interventions that promote patient and family adjustment.