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Behavioral treatment of children after severe head injury: a pilot study
C A Pruneti1, R Cantini, G Baracchini-Muratorio
1Servizio di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Ospedali Riuniti Santa Chiara, Pisa.
Insights
Token Economy, a behavioral modification technique, successfully treated cognitive and behavioral disorders in children with serious head injuries. Family involvement in this treatment led to normalized behavior one year after the intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Behavioral Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cognitive and behavioral disorders are common sequelae of serious pediatric head injuries.
- Limited research exists on effective interventions for these post-traumatic disorders in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Token Economy behavioral modification method in treating children with head injuries and coma.
- To assess the long-term impact of this intervention on cognitive and behavioral normalization.
Main Methods:
- The study employed the Token Economy, a behavioral modification technique.
- Twenty pediatric patients (mean age 11 years) with head injuries and coma participated.
- Family members were actively involved in the treatment process.
Main Results:
- The Token Economy intervention demonstrated high success rates in normalizing maladaptive behaviors.
- One-year follow-up data confirmed the sustained positive effects of the treatment.
- The involvement of families significantly contributed to the observed behavioral improvements.
Conclusions:
- The Token Economy is a highly effective treatment for cognitive and behavioral disorders in children post-head injury.
- Family-centered behavioral modification offers a promising approach for pediatric neurorehabilitation.
- Further research should explore long-term outcomes and broader applications of this method.
Abstract:
Little has been written on the treatment of cognitive and behavioral disorders in children following serious head injuries with coma. We have used the behavioral modification method known as Token Economy in 20 head-injured patients having a mean age of 11 years. The treatment, which involved the children's families, proved at one-year follow-up to be highly successful in normalizing maladaptive behavior.