Abstract for presentation at 6th World Congress on Brain Injury

The Effect of Post Traumatic Stress Symptomatology on Recovery in Children with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Study

  • Justin Kenardy, University of Queensland, Australia
  • Vicki Anderson, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia
  • Lynne McKinlay, University of Queensland, Australia
  • Nicholas Bellamy, University of Queensland, Australia
  • Rian Dob, University of Queensland, Australia

    • Objective:
    To investigate the influence of cognitive factors on development of post traumatic stress disorder in children with traumatic brain injury.
    Method:
    The study has a longitudinal design, with premorbid estimates based on questionnaires filled out by parents within 2 months of their child’s accident. Follow-up occurs at three, six, twelve and eighteen months after injury, and consists of clinical interviews to establish presence and extent of post traumatic stress, questionnaires filled out by parents, and cognitive measures of memory and attention. The participants are children aged between six and fourteen who presented to one of the three main children’s hospitals in Brisbane or Melbourne involved in this study, after sustaining a traumatic brain injury.
    Results:
    Recruitment for this study commenced in April 2004, and as such, no results are available at the time of writing this abstract. By May 2005, preliminary baseline, three-month and six-month results will be available for a minimum of 50 participants.
    Conclusions:
    As further evidenced by the case studies presented in this symposium, post traumatic stress symptomatology can be a significant factor in children’s recovery after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd