Child and adolescent traumatic brain injury: psychiatric findings from a paediatric outpatient speciality clinic

A record review focused on children and adolescents, with a history of traumatic brain injury, who were consecutively admitted to a brain injury clinic in which all new patients are psychiatrically evaluated. The development of a novel psychiatric disorder not present before injury occurred in 76% (38/50) of the cohort and was correlated significantly with family psychiatric history and family function, but not with severity of injury, preinjury psychiatric status, intellectual educational func tioning, or socioeconomic status. Psychiatric consultation is often necessary in this paediatric popula tion even though much of the psychopathology, particularly following mild injury, may not be directly related to brain trauma.