title: Family function and its relationship to injury severity and psychiatric outcome in children with acquired brain injury: a systematized review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The psychological and psychiatric outcome of children with acquired brain injury is influenced by many variables. A review was undertaken to clarify the contribution of family function, how it relates to injury severity, and what particular aspects of family function influence psychological outcome in this group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematized review of the literature of studies published between 1970 and 2012 from OvidMedline, PsychoInfo, PsycARTICLES, and Cochrane was undertaken focusing on family function, injury severity, and psychiatric outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six papers met the inclusion criteria. Injury severity was linked to the development of organic personality change. Family function before injury, measured by the Family Assessment Device or the Clinical Rating Scale, had a statistically significant effect on general psychological functioning in six out of eight studies. Family function had a significant effect for oppositional defiant disorder and secondary attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. The effects of family function may differ depending on the age of the child and the severity of the injury. Some styles of parenting moderated recovery. After injury, family function was related to the child's contemporaneous psychiatric symptoms. The level of evidence for these papers was 3 or 4 (Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine criteria).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for some aspects of family functioning before injury and family function during the rehabilitation phase may identify children at risk of psychiatric disorders.
authors: South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, King's College Hospital, London, London, UK.
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Lax Pericall
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors