CAROLINA-MTC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CAROLINA MTC: CAPTURING THE IMPACT OF GUT SYMPTOMS AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AT A MAJOR TRAUMA CENTRE
IRAS ID
345287
Contact name
Calum Moulton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to death and disability more than any other traumatic injury and affects around 70 million people worldwide each year. Following TBI, some patients experience debilitating long-term symptoms.
TBI survivors often report gastrointestinal complaints, though there is limited research into changes within the gut-brain axis and gut changes following TBI or concussion, and how TBI severity, admission type, interventions or preceding conditions might influence this. Many studies are limited to high scale major trauma TBI cases or concussion studies in healthy, predominantly male athletes. There is little research into the general population within concussion and mild to moderate TBI, as well as women in concussion studies. Depression and mood disorders in connection with health after TBI and post-concussion syndrome have also not been researched as such.
The primary aim of this work is to capture the impact of traumatic brain injury of all severities on the gut brain axis the short- and medium-term in an urban major trauma setting. This covers the impact of TBI on gut and mental health including depression and anxiety, and any possible predictors (e.g. post-traumatic seizures, diet, admission type, procedures or prior conditions) of worse gut symptoms and their on impact clinical outcomes and rehabilitation.Participants will be recruited at a major trauma centre and assessed via questionnaires at two timepoints, being shortly following injury or regaining capacity, and after 3 months. The data captured via questionnaires will cover concussion, gut, mood and sleep symptoms, as well as NHS care usage.
Gut symptoms and mood dysregulations often remain untreated or overlooked following hospital admissions, and patients do not receive appropriate follow-up care. This study could illustrate the importance of the gut-brain-axis in future TBI and concussion research; and support enhanced care for mental health and gastrointestinal health following TBI.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0106
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion