@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence and predictors of affective lability after paediatric traumatic brain injury",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2015",
author="Vasa, Roma A. and Suskauer, Stacy J. and Thorn, Julia M. and Kalb, Luther and Grados, Marco A. and Slomine, Beth S. and Salorio, Cynthia F. and Gerring, Joan P.",
volume="29",
number="7-8",
pages="921-928",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Paediatric severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with significant post-injury affective and behavioural problems. Few studies have examined the prevalence and characteristics of affective lability after paediatric TBI. <br><br>METHODS: Ninety-seven children with severe TBI were evaluated 1 year post-injury for the presence of affective lability using the Children's Affective Lability Scale (CALS). Demographic, clinical and brain lesion characteristics were also assessed. <br><br>RESULTS: Affective lability significantly increased after injury. Eighty-six children had a pre-injury CALS score of 1 SD or less from the group pre-injury mean (M = 8.11, SD = 9.31), of which 35 and 15 children had a 1 SD and 2 SD increase in their CALS score from pre- to post-injury, respectively. A variety of affective shifts manifested post-injury including anxiety, silliness, dysphoria and irritability. The most severe symptoms were irritability and unpredictable temper outbursts. Risk factors for affective lability included elevated pre-injury affective lability and psychosocial adversity as well as greater damage to the orbitofrontal cortex. Post-injury affective lability was most frequently associated with a post-injury diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Affective lability is common after paediatric TBI and frequently manifests as irritability and unpredictable outbursts. Early intervention is needed to improve psychiatric outcomes.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.3109/02699052.2015.1005670",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2015.1005670"
}