Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children: Predicting Behavioral and Emotional Deficits

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children: Predicting Behavioral and Emotional Deficits

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of psychosocial factors in creating Persistent Post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). The researchers investigate three hypotheses: (a) Do pre-injury psycho-environmental deficits predict a higher level of PPCS? (b) Do socio-demographic and personal pre-injury deficits relate to (1) a more negative attribution for the child injury by their parents and (2) embracing of a more permissive and authoritarian parenting; and do these factors mediate the symptoms' preservation? (c) Does Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) benefit to reducing PPCS emotional and behavioral symptoms?

200 children and adolescents with post concussion will be followed for 9 months, since the time of the head injury. Post concussive symptoms, along emotional distress and neurocognitive deficits will be examined at 2 weeks, 4 months and 9 months since the injury, using self report questionnaires, psychological evaluation and neuropsychological tests. Participants who demonstrates PPCS 4 months after the injury will be assigned either to the Cognitive Behavioral Treatmet group (CBT) or to the Treatment as Ususal group(TAU). The change in symptoms severity (PCS, emotional distress and neurocognitive deficits) will be compared between the two study groups in order to assess treatment efficacy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Head trauma.
• Post-concussive symptoms diagnosis according to DSMIV.

Exclusion Criteria:

• mental retardation.
• drug abuse.