Psychological and adjustment problems due to acquired brain lesions in childhood: a comparison between post-traumatic patients and brain tumour survivors

To define and differentiate psychological and adjustment problems due to brain injury or brain tumour in children and adolescents.

Two groups of patients with acquired brain lesions (24 post-traumatic patients and 22 brain tumour survivors), ranging in age between 8-15 years, received a psychological evaluation, including the Child Behaviour Checklist for Ages 4-18 (CBCL) and the Vineland Behaviour Adaptive Scales (VABS).

Both groups showed psychological and social adjustment problems. Post-traumatic patients were more impaired than brain tumour survivors. Social adjustment problems were associated to externalizing problems in post-traumatic patients and internalizing problems in brain tumour surviving patients.

These differences in psychological and behavioural disorders between the two groups must necessarily be considered when developing psychological treatment, rehabilitation plan and social re-entry.