title: Psychosocial function in the first year after childhood stroke.
abstract: Childhood stroke disrupts brain development and emerging neural networks. Motor, cognitive, and language deficits are well recognized, yet little is known about psychosocial function after childhood stroke. This study aims to describe psychosocial function within the first year after childhood stroke, and to identify factors associated with outcome.
  
  
  
  Thirty-seven children were involved in a prospective, longitudinal study investigating recovery over the first year after childhood stroke. Children's social functioning was assessed at 6-months and 12-months poststroke and psychological function at 12-months poststroke, using standardized measures.
  
  
  
  Mean social function was poorer at both 6-months and 12-months poststroke, compared to prestroke. Psychological problems were more common than expected, with emotional difficulties and hyperactivity-inattention most significantly affected. Poorer social function was associated with older age at onset, acute neurological impairment, and prestroke social impairment. Social and psychological problems were associated with parent mental health.
  
  
  
  While not all children are affected, psychosocial impairment affects a significant minority after childhood stroke. Older age at onset, acute neurological impairment, prestroke social problems, and poorer parent mental health were associated with deficits. Identifying early predictors of poorer outcome will facilitate early intervention. Of particular importance is parent mental health, suggesting support for families may improve child outcome.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Mardee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenham
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hearps
authors.affiliation: Imaging, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Paediatric Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ditchfield
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Medical Imaging, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Department of Haematology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monagle
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.|Pediatric Neuroscience Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors