Background: This study’s aim was to ascertain differential effects of specific stress-related sub-categories of the total stress response in family members who care for patients with TBI at home, to what extent they are associated with suicidal ideation respectively and their practical implications.

Materials and methods: The study sample was comprised of randomly selected volunteer family members (N = 80) caring at home for a relative with TBI. Individually administered standardized measures were used, viz., the Stress Symptom Checklist (SSCL) with three separate sub-categories of stress responses: physical symptoms, psychological symptoms and behavioural symptoms and question 9 (Q9) of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Results : The total stress scores of the sample (including all three sub-categories) were elevated and varied, reflecting their non-normal distribution. However, differences in most scores were higher on the behavioural one associated with suicidal ideation than the physical and psychological sub-categories. The study confirmed that an interaction of stress-related sub-categories affect moderating variables differently in family members who care for TBI patients at home.

Conclusion : Early detection and treatment of the onset of the different sub-category symptoms brought on by chronic stress, in particular the often misunderstood behavioural stress-related reactions/symptoms (including possible suicidal ideation) in family carers of TBI patients, can contribute to improving long-term quality of life for both the family caregivers and the patients with TBI they care for