Citation

McKinlay A, Grace RC, Horwood J, Fergusson D, MacFarlane M. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2009; 24(3): 221-227.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. audrey.mckinlay@canterbury.ac.nz

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0b013e3181a40590

PMID

19461369

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether childhood mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is associated with behavioral problems in adolescence. PARTICIPANTS: Children from a longitudinal birth cohort (initial N = 1265) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) inpatient group (n = 19) comprised children admitted to hospital for MTBI before age 5 years; (2) outpatient group (n = 57), children with any incidence of MTBI before age 5 seen by a general practitioner or at an accident and emergency department and sent home; (3) reference control group (n = 839). OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and self-report regarding attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and alcohol or illicit substance abuse/dependence obtained using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition Revised) criteria. RESULTS: At age 14 to 16 years, children who had been hospitalized for MTBI during preschool years were significantly more likely to show symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (odds ratio = 4.2), conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (odds ratio = 6.2), substance abuse (odds ratio = 3.6), and mood disorder (odds ratio = 3.1) but not anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool MTBI is associated with persistent negative effects on psychosocial development. These continuing problems are consistent with the view that preschool years represent a period of particular vulnerability following MTBI.

Language: en