Abstract: Objective To analyze the relevant factors of determing the degree of mental disability after brain injuries in the traffic accidents. Methods A total of 157 forensic psychiatry cases involving the assessment of mental disability caused by traffic accidents were collected and divided into three groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to the conclusion of the forensic identification. The demographic, clinical and forensic data were compared in the three groups and analyzed with ordinal logistic regression. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic data among three groups(P>0.05). While there was statistically significant difference in the coma duration, severity of intracranial hemorrhage, working capacity, family duties, social functions, self care capacity and intelligence quotient(P<0.05) among the groups. Intracranial hemorrhage, family duties, social functions and self care capacity were chosen as the factors in the logistic regression equation. Conclusion The degree of the brain damage influenced the mental disability. Family duties, social functions and self care capacity are the major factors for determing the degree of mental disability after injured.

Key words: forensic psychiatry, brain injuries, accidents, traffic, mental impairment