An evidence-based review of cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation treatment studies in children with acquired brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to complete a systematic evidence-based review of published cognitive and behavioral treatment studies with pediatric subjects who have a history of an acquired brain injury (ABI).


METHODS
We utilized PubMed and EMBASE to search peer-reviewed journals from 1980 to 2006.


METHODS
Terms such as cognitive rehabilitation, speech therapy, language therapy, and behavior therapy were employed in the search and 28 studies met established criteria.


METHODS
The data extracted from each study included specific details about the cognitive or behavioral treatment, subjects, study design, outcome measurements, and treatment effectiveness.


RESULTS
The studies, involving 366 children and youth with ABI, were classified as 1 Class I study, 5 Class II studies, 6 Class III studies, and 16 Class IV studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a limited number of studies, 2 treatment recommendations and 1 option were developed from this systematic literature search.
Laatsch
Linda
L
Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago 60612, and Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ, USA. llaatsch@uic.edu
Harrington
Doug
D
Hotz
Gillian
G
Marcantuono
Joseph
J
Mozzoni
Michael P
MP
Walsh
Vanessa
V
Hersey
Katherine Pike
KP
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy