title: Predictors of child post-concussion symptoms at 6 and 18 months following mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A proportion of children will experience persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). As persistent PCS may be maintained by pathological and psychological factors, this study aimed to describe and evaluate potential pre- and post-injury parent and child predictors of persistent PCS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 children with mTBI and their parents participated. Parents completed measures of their own distress and children's PCS and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) at baseline (reflecting pre-injury function). These measures, as well as measures of children's distress and cognitive function were administered at 6 and 18 months post-injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children's PCS at 6 months post-injury were predicted by both pre-injury parent distress and children's pre-injury PCS. At 18 months post-injury, children's PCS were predicted by higher levels of parent distress and child PCS at 6 months post-injury, as well as poorer post-injury cognitive functioning. Change in PCS between 6-18 months post-injury was predicted by parent's pre-injury anxiety and children's HRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children at risk of persistent PCS can be identified by higher levels of pre- and post-injury PCS, parent distress and poorer post-injury cognition. These factors should be addressed by interventions aimed at minimizing the occurrence and impact of child PCS.
authors: Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: Olsson
authors: Owen T
authors: OT
authors: Lloyd
authors: Robyne M
authors: RM
authors: Lebrocque
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: McKinlay
authors: Vicki A
authors: VA
authors: Anderson
authors: Justin A
authors: JA
authors: Kenardy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors