OBJECTIVE To investigate emotional distress and quality of life in a sample of Danish relatives of patients with severe brain injury at admission to intensive rehabilitation in the sub-acute phase. METHODS Clinical convenience sample. METHODS Participants included 31 primary relatives of patients with severe brain injury. The participants were recruited at admission to Traumatic Brain Injury Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup. All relatives completed the depression and anxiety scales from SCL-90-R (Symptom Checklist) and the Role Emotional, Social Function, Mental Health and Vitality scale of the SF-36 approximately 36 days after injury. Data concerning severity of injury, the patients' level of consciousness and function was also collected. RESULTS The participants had significantly lower scores on all quality of life scales (p < 0.01) and significantly more symptoms of anxiety (p < 0.01) and depression (p < 0.01) than normal reference populations. Correlations were found between the patients' condition and the level of anxiety and depression in relatives. CONCLUSIONS The majority of relatives had severely impaired quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression at the time of admission. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating interventions in the acute phase.