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Behavioral consequences of mild traumatic brain injury in preschoolers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2017

Charlotte Gagner ,
Catherine Landry-Roy ,
Annie Bernier ,
Jocelyn Gravel  and
Miriam H. Beauchamp
Charlotte Gagner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Catherine Landry-Roy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Annie Bernier
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Jocelyn Gravel
Affiliation:
Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Miriam H. Beauchamp*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Miriam Beauchamp, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-term disability in children and adolescents worldwide. Amongst the wide array of consequences known to occur after pediatric TBI, behavioral impairments are among the most widespread and may particularly affect children who sustain injury early in the course of development. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems 6 months after preschool (i.e. 18–60 months old) mild TBI.

Methods

This work is part of a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of preschool TBI. Participants (N = 229) were recruited to one of three groups: children with mild TBI, typically developing children and orthopedic injured (OI) children. Mothers of children in all three groups completed the Child Behavior Checklist as a measure of behavioral outcomes 6-month post-injury. Demographics, injury-related characteristics, level of parental distress, and estimates of pre-injury behavioral problems were also documented.

Results

The three groups did not differ on baseline characteristics (e.g. demographics and pre-injury behavioral problems for the mild TBI and OI groups) and level of parental distress. Mothers’ ratings of internalizing and externalizing behaviors were higher in the mild TBI group compared with the two control groups. Pre-injury behavioral problems and maternal distress were found to be significant predictors of outcome.

Conclusion

Our results show that even in its mildest form, preschool TBI may cause disruption to the immature brain serious enough to result in behavioral changes, which persist for several months post-injury.

Keywords

Traumatic brain injurychildhoodbehavioral problemspreschool period
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 9 , July 2018 , pp. 1551 - 1559
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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