POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMATOLOGY AFTER CHILDHOOD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

The purpose of this study was to quantify and to identify predictors o f posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology after traumatic brain injury (TBT). Fifty children aged 6 to 14 years, hospitalized af ter TBI, were assessed soon after TBI regarding injury severity and pr einjury psychiatric, socioeconomic, family functioning, and family psy chiatric history status; neuroimaging was also analyzed. Psychiatric a ssessments were repeated 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TBI. Only 2 of 46 (4%) subjects with at least one follow-up assessment developed PTSD . However, the frequency with which subjects experienced at least one PTSD symptom ranged from 68% in the first 3 months to 12% at 2 years i n assessed children. The presence of an internalizing disorder at time of injury followed by greater injury severity were the most consisten t predictors of PTSD symptomatology. It is apparent, therefore, that P TSD and subsyndromal posttraumatic stress disturbances occur despite n eurogenic amnesia. These problems should be treated, particularly if s ymptoms persist beyond 3 months.