title: A prospective study of long-term caregiver and family adaptation following brain injury in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined long-term differences in family adaptation following traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and orthopedic injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Families of children with severe TBI (n = 53), moderate TBI (n = 56), and orthopedic injuries (n = 80) were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months post injury and at an extended follow-up an average of 4.1 years post injury. Caregiver and family outcomes were examined using mixed model analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patterns of adaptation over time varied across groups but indicated long-standing injury-related stress and burden in the severe TBI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe TBI results in persistent caregiver stress for a substantial proportion of families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. wades0@chmcc.org
authors.forename: Shari L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: H Gerry
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drotar
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stancin
authors.forename: Keith O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Yeates
authors.forename: Nori M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Minich
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome