Citation

Moran LM, Taylor HG, Rusin J, Bangert B, Dietrich A, Nuss KE, Wright M, Minich NM, Yeates KO. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2012; 37(7): 736-744.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Health System, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Health System, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Department of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsr087

PMID

21994421

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and injury-related outcomes such as postconcussive symptoms (PCS) may influence health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children. METHODS: We evaluated HRQOL in 186 8- to 15-year-old children with mild TBI and 99 children with orthopedic injuries (OI). Parents rated the frequency and severity of PCS at an initial assessment within 2-weeks postinjury and rated HRQOL at 3- and 12-months postinjury. RESULTS: The mild TBI and OI groups did not differ in psychosocial HRQOL, but the mild TBI group showed lower physical HRQOL at the 12-month follow-up. Somatic PCS were a significant predictor of physical HRQOL over time, and both cognitive and somatic PCS were significant predictors of psychosocial HRQOL over time. Children with higher PCS at the initial assessment had lower HRQOL scores at later time points. CONCLUSIONS: Effective management of PCS may be associated with improvements in HRQOL following pediatric mild TBI.

Language: en