Validity of neurobehavioral symptoms reported in children with traumatic brain injury

Few studies have examined the validity of neurobehavioral symptoms as correlates of the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or as predictors of the neuropsychological and family consequences of injury. In the present study, 68 children with moderate to severe TBI, together with 53 children with orthopedic injuries only, were followed prospectively from the time of hospitalization. Postinjury behavior symptoms and other child and family outcomes were assessed at a baseline evaluation and again at a 6-month follow-up. The TBI group had more behavior symptoms than the orthopedic injury group at baseline and follow-up. For the TBI group, behavior symptoms at both assessments correlated with injury severity. Greater numbers of symptoms at baseline were associated with poorer neuropsychological performances and family distress at baseline, as well as more negative changes over follow-up in the child. The present findings support the utility of neurobehavioral symptoms as markers of injury severity and predictors of child and family sequelae.