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Published on: November 19, 2012
Behaviour outcomes three months after mild TBI in preschool children
Joy Noelle Yumul1,2, Audrey McKinlay1,2,3, Vicki Anderson1,2,4,5
1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Insights
Preschoolers with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) showed normal behavior ratings post-injury. However, some experienced sleep issues and anxiety, linked to pre-injury factors and parental stress.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental psychology
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in preschoolers can impact behavior.
- Understanding post-injury behavioral changes is crucial for early intervention.
- Previous research has not fully explored behavioral outcomes in this age group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine parent-reported behaviors in preschoolers following mTBI.
- To compare behavioral ratings between mTBI and limb injury (LI) groups.
- To identify factors associated with behavioral changes at three months post-injury.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 13 preschoolers (aged 2-5) with mTBI and 6 with LI from emergency departments.
- Assessed child behavior using the Child Behaviour Checklist.
- Analyzed injury, premorbid child, and parent variables at three months post-injury.
Main Results:
- Post-injury behavior ratings were generally within the normal range for both groups.
- The mTBI group showed higher sleep-related scores compared to the LI group.
- Two children with mTBI exhibited borderline-clinically significant anxiety ratings, unlike the LI group.
Conclusions:
- While most behaviors remained normal, subtle issues like sleep disturbances and anxiety warrant attention in preschoolers post-mTBI.
- Pre-existing child functioning and parental stress are significant correlates of post-injury behavior.
- Larger studies are needed to further investigate these associations in preschool mTBI.
Abstract:
This study examined parents' report of behaviour in preschoolers after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), compared the proportion of preschoolers with elevated behaviour ratings between the mTBI and limb injury (LI) groups, and explored injury, premorbid child, and parent variables that may be associated with parents' report of behaviour at three months post-injury. Children aged 2-5 years with a mTBI (n = 13) or mild LI (n = 6) were recruited from the emergency department. Behaviour was assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist. Preliminary findings showed that post-injury behaviour ratings remained in the normal range. The mTBI group had higher scores than the LI group at three months post-injury in terms of sleep; however, this may have been pre-existing. Two children with mTBI received borderline-clinically significant ratings on diagnostic-level anxiety problems at the three-month follow-up, while none of the limb-injured controls obtained elevated behaviour ratings. Parent-rated post-injury behaviour was significantly associated with premorbid child functioning and parental stress, which needs to be explored in greater detail using larger preschool mTBI samples.
