TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS - PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AT 2 YEARS

Objective: To extend findings regarding predictive factors of psychiat ric outcome from the first to the second year after traumatic brain in jury (TBI) in children and adolescents. Method: Subjects were children aged 6 to 14 years at the time they were hospitalized after TBI. The study used a prospective follow-up design. Assessments of preinjury ps ychiatric, behavioral, adaptive functioning, family functioning and fa mily psychiatric history status were conducted. Severity of injury was assessed by standard clinical scales and neuroimaging was analyzed. T he outcome measure was the presence of a psychiatric disorder, not pre sent before the injury (''novel''), during the second year after TBI. Results: Fifty subjects enrolled, and the analyses focused on 42 subje cts followed at 24 months. Severity of injury, preinjury family functi on, and preinjury lifetime psychiatric history predicted the developme nt of a ''novel'' psychiatric disorder present in the second year. Con clusion: These data suggest that there are children, identifiable thro ugh clinical assessment, at increased risk for ''novel'' psychiatric d isorders in the second year after TBI.