Trauma Exposure, Social Support and Mental Health in the General Population in Belgium.

Introduction: International research has shown that trauma exposure can lead to mental health disorders and affect social support. However, there is little insight into trauma exposure and its related issues in the general population of Belgium.

Methods: Secondary cross-sectional data on the general adult population were retrieved from the Belgian Health Interview Survey.

The psychosocial aid response after the 22/03/2016 attacks in Belgium: a community case study.

Introduction: After the terrorist attacks, early psychosocial care is provided to people considered at risk of developing mental health issues due to the attacks. Despite the clear importance of such early intervention, there is very few data on how this is registered, who is targeted, and whether target-recipients accept such aid.

Methods: Using registry data from the Centre General Wellbeingwork (CAW), a collection of centers in the regions Brussels and Flanders that provide psychosocial care, we examined the early psychosocial care response after the terrorist attacks of 22/03/2016 in Belgium.

A day in the life: psychological impact on emergency responders during the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks.

Introduction: Terrorist attacks can cause severe long-term mental health issues that need treatment. However, in the case of emergency responders, research is often vague on the type of stressors that emergency responders encounter. For example, in addition to the threat that they work under, studies have shown that ill-preparation adds to the stress experienced by emergency responders.

Post-what stress? A review of methods of research on posttraumatic stress during COVID-19.

Background: Post-traumatic stress (PTS) was extensively investigated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, numerous researchers have raised concerns regarding the adherence of many of these studies to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This review aimed to provide insight into the methodology of research on PTS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comment on 'Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression after the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market terrorist attack: a comparison of exposed and non-exposed police personnel': moving towards shared methodology in terrorism-research.

In the recent article 'Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas Market terrorist attack: a comparison of exposed and non-exposed police personnel,' important insights are provided about the association between terrorism exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, in our opinion, there are several methodological issues that limit the results of this study. In this letter, we discuss the problematic use of partial PTSD, the adjustment of the PCL-5 to refer only to a specific terrorist attack, and the significance of criterion A.

Predicting return to work after traumatic brain injury using machine learning and administrative data.

Background: Accurate patient-specific predictions on return-to-work after traumatic brain injury (TBI) can support both clinical practice and policymaking. The use of machine learning on large administrative data provides interesting opportunities to create such prognostic models.

Aim: The current study assesses whether return-to-work one year after TBI can be predicted accurately from administrative data.

Traumatic brain injury hospitalizations in Belgium: A brief overview of incidence, population characteristics, and outcomes.

Background: There is a need for complete and accurate epidemiological studies for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Secondary use of administrative data can provide country-specific population data across the full spectrum of disease.

Aim: This study aims to provide a population-based overview of Belgian TBI hospital admissions as well as their health-related and employment outcomes.

Quantifying injury severity for traumatic brain injury with routinely collected health data.

Background: Routinely collected health data (RCHD) offers many opportunities for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research, in which injury severity is an important factor.

Objective: The use of clinical injury severity indices in a context of RCHD is explored, as are alternative measures created for this specific purpose. To identify useful scales for full body injury severity and TBI severity this study focuses on their performance in predicting these currently used indices, while accounting for age and comorbidities.

Predictors of return to work after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of current literature and recommendations for future research.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with employment between six months and five years after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Using a predefined search algorithm, four electronic databases were searched for literature published between 2014 and the first half of April 2021 containing predictors of employment outcome. Data were selected in accordance with the PRISMA flow and the whole process was conducted by two reviewers who had to attain a consensus.

The Incremental Hospitalization Cost of Significant Transport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury.

Aim: This study aims to determine the incremental cost of acute hospitalization for traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared with matched controls. A second purpose is to identify the factors contributing to this hospital costs.

Methodology: Analyses were performed on administrative data for injured patients, hospitalized in Belgium between 2009 and 2011 following a road traffic accident.

The incremental cost of traumatic brain injury during the first year after a road traffic accident.

This study aims to determine the incremental cost of TBI during the first year after a traffic accident, compared to other patients with similar non-TBI injuries. Secondly, identification of factors associated with medical costs of TBI is pursued. Analyses were performed on administrative data for traffic victims hospitalised in Belgium between 2009 and 2011.

Health care utilization after hospitalization following a road traffic accident.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in measuring and modeling health care utilization. However, only limited research has been performed in the field of health care utilization following road traffic accidents. This article aims to measure the incremental health care utilization after hospital discharge after a road traffic accident and explore the association between socio-demographic and injury-related variables and health care utilization.