Posttraumatic stress symptoms in children following orthopedic or traumatic brain injury

Examined posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in children following pediatri c traumatic brain injury (TBI). Children (ages 6-12) with TBI (n = 81) and orthopedic injury (OI; n = 59) were assessed 6 and 12 months postinjury. Pa rents of children with severe TBI reported higher levels of child PTS sympt oms than did parents of children with moderate TBI or OI at the 6- and 12-m onth follow-ups. Group differences in child-reported PTS symptoms emerged a t the 12-month follow-up with higher symptom levels reported by children wi th severe TBI than by those with moderate TBI or OI. At both follow-ups, ra tes of clinically significant symptom levels were higher in the severe TBI group than in the moderate TBI or OI groups. The group differences in paren t and child reports were significant even after taking ethnicity, social di sadvantage, and age at injury into account. Parent and child reports of chi ld PTS symptoms were related to family socioeconomic status. Implications f or clinical intervention with children and families following pediatric TBI are discussed.