title: Psychological problems, self-esteem and body dissatisfaction in a sample of adolescents with brain lesions: A comparison with a control group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe psychological problems, self-esteem difficulties and body dissatisfaction in a sample of adolescents with acquired brain lesions and to compare them with an age- and gender-matched control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an experimental design, the psychological profile of 26 adolescents with brain lesions of traumatic or vascular aetiology, aged 12-18 years, was compared with that of 18 typically-developing subjects. Moreover, within the clinical group, patients with TBI were compared with patients with vascular lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The psychological and adaptive profile of the adolescents was assessed by a specific protocol, including CBCL, VABS, RSES, EDI-2 and BES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents with brain lesions showed more marked psychological problems than their healthy peers; they also presented with a greater impairment of adaptive skills and a lower self-esteem. No significant differences were found between patients with traumatic lesions and patients with vascular lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with acquired brain lesions were at higher risk to develop psychological and behavioural difficulties. Furthermore, in the clinical sample, some variables such as the long hospitalization and isolation from family and peers were associated to a greater psychological burden than the aetiology of the brain damage.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Associazione La Nostra Famiglia , Bosisio Parini, Lecco , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maestroni
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Recla
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strazzer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Adolescent; body image disorders; brain injuries; psychological adjustment; self-esteem