Burden and coping among the relatives and carers of brain-injured survivors

Abstract
The relatives/carers of 23 traumatic brain injury patients were interviewed around one year after patients' discharge from postacute rehabilitation to determine the nature of the residual problems, the nature of the relatives' and carers' responses, and the strain on relatives and carers. Relatives were under very considerable strain. Some response styles were associated with increased stress, but there was little evidence for the effectiveness of positive coping strategies in reducing stress.