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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Digital Health

Interventions for mental health and substance use in brain injury populations: systematic evidence map and review with interactive data visualization

  • Cole J. Kennedy1,2,3
  • Yichun Zhao4
  • Simon Kurkimaki1
  • Nicholas Gavas1
  • Emily L. Spargo5
  • Bernard Dupriez-Mitchell1
  • Devon Rees1
  • Zahra Premji6
  • Erica Woodin1,3
  • Julia Schmidt7,8
  • Janelle Breese Biagioni9,10
  • Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera1,2
10 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  2. 2Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  3. 3Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  4. 4Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  5. 5Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
  6. 6Libraries, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
  7. 7Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  8. 8Rehabilitation Research Program, Centre for Aging SMART, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  9. 9CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses, Victoria, BC, Canada
  10. 10British Columbia Brain Injury Association, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Abstract

Background: Brain injury, mental health and substance use disorders are leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite high rates of comorbidity, it remains unclear how to best support individuals with concurrent brain injury and mental health or substance use problems. The objectives of this study were to: 1) conduct a systematic evidence mapping review on interventions for mental health and substance use in brain injury populations, and 2) develop an interactive user interface to visualize the findings.

Methods: Systematic evidence mapping methodology was used to identify and organize relevant research. PsycINFO, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and CDSR), Web of Science Core Collection and CINAHL were searched. The AMSTAR-2 was used to evaluate methodological quality and all outcomes are reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Through an iterative prototyping design, the evidence map user interface was developed.

Results: Of the 76,199 records identified, 628 studies involving 815,295 participants with brain injury were included. Records were comprised of 381 impact evaluations, 161 systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, 39 trial registry records, 43 study protocols and 4 clinical practice guidelines. Most AMSTAR-2 ratings fell within the critically low or low quality range. Cerebrovascular injuries, pharmacological interventions and studies examining depression were among the most researched topics. The development, features and applications of the interactive evidence map are described.

Conclusions: Several patterns across the evidence base emerged and evidence gaps were identified, informing priorities for future research. These findings can be used by clinicians to inform treatment planning and by researchers to guide priority areas for future investigations.

Systematic Review Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/P64MT

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kennedy2026interventions,
  title = {{Interventions for mental health and substance use in brain injury populations: systematic evidence map and review with interactive data visualization}},
  author = {Cole J. Kennedy and Yichun Zhao and Simon Kurkimaki and Nicholas Gavas and Emily L. Spargo and Bernard Dupriez-Mitchell and Devon Rees and Zahra Premji and Erica Woodin and Julia Schmidt and Janelle Breese Biagioni and Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera},
  journal = {Frontiers in Digital Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fdgth.2026.1748621},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1748621},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Interventions for mental health and substance use in brain injury populations: systematic evidence map and review with interactive data visualization
AU  - Cole J. Kennedy
AU  - Yichun Zhao
AU  - Simon Kurkimaki
AU  - Nicholas Gavas
AU  - Emily L. Spargo
AU  - Bernard Dupriez-Mitchell
AU  - Devon Rees
AU  - Zahra Premji
AU  - Erica Woodin
AU  - Julia Schmidt
AU  - Janelle Breese Biagioni
AU  - Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/12
JO  - Frontiers in Digital Health
DO  - 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1748621
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1748621
AB  - Background: Brain injury, mental health and substance use disorders are leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite high rates of comorbidity, it remains unclear how to best support individuals with concurrent brain injury and mental health or substance use problems. The objectives of this study were to: 1) conduct a systematic evidence mapping review on interventions for mental health and substance use in brain injury populations, and 2) develop an interactive user interface to visualize the findings.  Methods: Systematic evidence mapping methodology was used to identify and organize relevant research. PsycINFO, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and CDSR), Web of Science Core Collection and CINAHL were searched. The AMSTAR-2 was used to evaluate methodological quality and all outcomes are reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Through an iterative prototyping design, the evidence map user interface was developed.  Results: Of the 76,199 records identified, 628 studies involving 815,295 participants with brain injury were included. Records were comprised of 381 impact evaluations, 161 systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, 39 trial registry records, 43 study protocols and 4 clinical practice guidelines. Most AMSTAR-2 ratings fell within the critically low or low quality range. Cerebrovascular injuries, pharmacological interventions and studies examining depression were among the most researched topics. The development, features and applications of the interactive evidence map are described.  Conclusions: Several patterns across the evidence base emerged and evidence gaps were identified, informing priorities for future research. These findings can be used by clinicians to inform treatment planning and by researchers to guide priority areas for future investigations.  Systematic Review Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/P64MT
SN  - 2673-253X
ER  -