CHILD AND ADOLESCENT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY - PSYCHIATRIC FINDINGS FROM A PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT SPECIALITY CLINIC

A record review focused on children and adolescents, with a history of traumatic brain injury, who were consecutively admitted to a brain in jury clinic in which all new patients are psychiatrically evaluated. T he development of a 'novel' psychiatric disorder (not present before i njury) occurred in 76% (38/50) of the cohort and was correlated signif icantly with family psychiatric history and family function, but not w ith severity of injury, preinjury psychiatric status, intellectual/edu cational functioning, or socioeconomic status. Psychiatric consultatio n is often necessary in this paediatric population even though much of the psychopathology, particularly following mild injury, may not be d irectly related to brain trauma.