Post-traumatic stress disorder in children following road traffic accidents: a comparison of those with and without mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background: It is now recognized that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur following roadtraffic accidents, but controversy exists about the possibility of PTSD in people sustaining traumaticbrain injury (TBI). The present investigation examined the frequency, course and comorbidity ofPTSD in children with and without mild TBI after traffic accidents. Method: Interviews were conducted with 43 children and their parents 6 weeks after a traffic accident,assessing PTSD and associated symptomatology. Fourteen children sustained mild TBI and 29 had noTBI. A sub-set (n¼32) was re-interviewed 7 weeks later. Results: Children both with and without TBI reported PTSD symptomatology, but no significantgroup differences were found. At initial assessment, 74% of children were classified as having clinicallysignificant PTSD symptomatology (86% and 69% in groups with and without TBI, respectively),which was strongly associated with report of general anxiety. At follow-up, PTSD symptomatologydecreased, but 44% remained symptomatic (38% and 46% for those with and without TBI,respectively). Child and parental report of PTSD symptomatology were not significantly correlated. Conclusions: Presence of mild TBI did not influence the likelihood of experiencing PTSD symptomatologyfollowing a traffic accident. Given that PTSD symptomatology is a common consequence oftraffic accidents in children, there is a clear need for provision of systematic assessment and, whereappropriate, the implementation of intervention strategies to treat children.