Utilization of Mental Health Services After Mild Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.
BACKGROUND
Mild traumatic brain injury injuries (mTBIs), including concussions, represent >2 million US pediatric emergency department visits annually. Post-mTBI mental health symptoms are prominent and often attributed to the mTBI. This study examined whether individuals seeking post-mTBI mental health care had previous mental health diagnoses or a new onset of such disorders, and determined if mental health care utilization differed by race/ethnicity.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study, using the Medicaid Marketscan claims national dataset (2007-2012). Utilization of mental health services 1 year before and 1 year after mTBI was compared between children with and without mental health diagnoses before injury. Primary outcome was receipt of post-mTBI outpatient mental health care.


RESULTS
A total of 31 272 children 20 years or younger were included, 8577 (27%) with mental health diagnoses before their mTBI and 22 695 without one. After injury, children without previous mental health disorders increased mental health services utilization; however, most (86%) postinjury mental health care was received by children with previous mental health disorders. Having a mental health diagnosis pre-mTBI was the most important risk factor for receiving post-mTBI mental health care (odds ratio 7.93, 95% confidence interval 7.40-8.50). Hispanic children were less likely to receive post-mTBI mental health care.


CONCLUSIONS
mTBI was associated with increased utilization of mental health services but most of these services were received by children with previous mental health disorders. Our documentation of racial/ethnic disparities in mental health care utilization reemphasize the importance of providing individualized, culturally, and linguistically competent care to improve outcomes after mTBI for all children.
Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, njimen@uw.edu.|Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Nathalia
N
Jimenez
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Alex
A
Quistberg
Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.|Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Pediatrics.
Monica S
MS
Vavilala
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Rehabilitation Medicine, and.
Kenneth M
KM
Jaffe
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Pediatrics.|Epidemiology, and.
Frederick P
FP
Rivara
D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult