Alice Gornall, Michael Takagi, Cathriona Clarke, Franz Babl, Nicholas Cheng, Gavin A Davis, Kevin Dunne, Nicholas Anderson, Stephen J C Hearps, Vanessa C Rausa, Vicki Anderson
Children often experience mental health difficulties after a concussion. Yet, the extent to which a concussion precipitates or exacerbates mental health difficulties remains unclear. This study aimed to examine psychological predictors of mental health difficulties after pediatric concussion. Children (aged 5 to <18 years, M=11.7, SD=3.3) with concussion were recruited in a single-site longitudinal prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary children's hospital (n=115, 73.9% male). The primary outcomes included internalizing (anxious, depressed, withdrawn behaviors), externalizing (risk-taking, aggression, attention difficulties), and total mental health problems, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist at two weeks (acute) and three months (post-acute) after concussion...
April 25, 2024: Journal of Neurotrauma