Post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use following traumatic brain injury: a clinical and neuropsychological case study

Resumo

The present study proposes to investigate the case of a patient with crack-cocaine use disorder from the occurrence of a neurological condition of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is presumed that this is a case of crack and cocaine use disorder from the occurrence of two predisposing factors: TBI and the appearance of post-traumatic symptoms. Therefore, the present case discusses, clinically and based in neuropsychological assessment, the hypotheses of substance use as self-medication to attenuate the depressive symptoms related to the traumatic experience and/or as a consequence of a neuropsychological framework. Furthermore, the presence of a neurological condition may explain the subsequent progression to crack-cocaine use disorder.