A prospective study of long-term caregiver and family adaptation following brain injury in children.
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.
Wade
Shari L
SL
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. wades0@chmcc.org
Taylor
H Gerry
HG
Drotar
Dennis
D
Stancin
Terry
T
Yeates
Keith O
KO
Minich
Nori M
NM
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