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Posttraumatic stress symptomatology after childhood traumatic brain injury

J E Max1, C S Castillo, D A Robin

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|October 27, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is uncommon after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children, but many experience symptoms. Pre-existing internalizing disorders and injury severity predict PTSD development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Traumatology

Background:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to various psychological sequelae in children.
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant concern following TBI, but its prevalence and predictors in pediatric populations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the incidence of PTSD and its symptoms in children after TBI.
  • To identify predictors of PTSD symptomatology in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 50 children (aged 6-14) hospitalized for TBI.
  • Assessment of injury severity, pre-injury psychiatric status, socioeconomic factors, family functioning, and family psychiatric history.
  • Neuroimaging analysis.
  • Repeated psychiatric assessments at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-TBI.

Main Results:

  • Only 4% of subjects developed full PTSD, but 68% experienced at least one PTSD symptom within 3 months post-TBI.
  • Symptom frequency decreased to 12% at 2 years.
  • Pre-injury internalizing disorders and greater injury severity were the most consistent predictors of PTSD symptomatology.

Conclusions:

  • While full PTSD is rare after pediatric TBI, subsyndromal posttraumatic stress symptoms are common.
  • These symptoms can occur even with neurogenic amnesia.
  • Early identification and treatment of persistent symptoms (beyond 3 months) are recommended.

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