Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Murine Model of Controlled Cortical Impact for the Induction of Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 16, 2019
Post-traumatic stress disorder attributed to traumatic brain injury in children - a systematic review
Afrim Iljazi1,2,3, Håkan Ashina1, Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali1
1Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 3.3% to 48.5% of pediatric patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Early detection of PTSD in children with TBI is crucial due to potential long-term disability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant concern in pediatric populations.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potential consequence of TBI, impacting long-term outcomes.
- Understanding the prevalence of PTSD following pediatric TBI is essential for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of pediatric patients who develop PTSD following TBI.
- To synthesize existing evidence on the frequency of PTSD in children with TBI.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of studies was conducted using PubMed and Embase databases.
- Two independent investigators screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles.
- Data extraction was performed by the investigators for relevant information.
Main Results:
- Ten articles were included, describing six unique cohorts.
- The reported frequency of PTSD attributed to TBI in children ranged from 3.3% to 48.5%.
- Two studies indicated a higher incidence of PTSD in children with TBI compared to orthopedic controls.
Conclusions:
- Methodological differences across studies limit direct comparisons of PTSD frequency.
- Undetected PTSD in pediatric TBI patients is a public health concern due to associated long-term disability.
- Further large-scale, prospective research is necessary to clarify the clinical course of PTSD after pediatric TBI.
Objective:
To assess the proportion of pediatric patients who develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attributed to traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods:
PubMed and Embase were searched from database inception until January 26, 2019. Two independent investigators screened titles, abstracts, and subsequently, full-text articles. Following this, the same investigators also extracted data relevant for the scope of this review.
Results:
Ten articles were included in this review. In these, six unique cohorts were described, with relative frequencies of PTSD attributed TBI ranging from 3.3% to 48.5%. Two studies also found that PTSD was more common in children after TBI compared to pediatric orthopedic controls. Study quality was determined as high or very high for all six included cohorts, although the studies differed considerably in terms of methodology.
Conclusions:
Methodological variations confound comparisons of relative frequency assessments of PTSD attributed to TBI. However, PTSD is associated with considerable long-term disability and undetected PTSD in children should raise public concern. Thus, large scale, prospective studies are needed to ascertain the clinical course of PTSD attributed to TBI in children and adolescence.
