Prevalence and predictors of affective lability after paediatric traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective: Paediatric severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with significant post-injury affective and behavioural problems. Few studies have examined the prevalence and characteristics of affective lability after paediatric TBI.

Methods: Ninety-seven children with severe TBI were evaluated 1 year post-injury for the presence of affective lability using the Children’s Affective Lability Scale (CALS). Demographic, clinical and brain lesion characteristics were also assessed.

Results: Affective lability significantly increased after injury. Eighty-six children had a pre-injury CALS score of 1 SD or less from the group pre-injury mean (M = 8.11, SD = 9.31), of which 35 and 15 children had a 1 SD and 2 SD increase in their CALS score from pre- to post-injury, respectively. A variety of affective shifts manifested post-injury including anxiety, silliness, dysphoria and irritability. The most severe symptoms were irritability and unpredictable temper outbursts. Risk factors for affective lability included elevated pre-injury affective lability and psychosocial adversity as well as greater damage to the orbitofrontal cortex. Post-injury affective lability was most frequently associated with a post-injury diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Conclusions: Affective lability is common after paediatric TBI and frequently manifests as irritability and unpredictable outbursts. Early intervention is needed to improve psychiatric outcomes.

• Affective lability
• children
• irritability
• outbursts
• traumatic brain injury

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by NIMH grant K20 MH-00997, and NICHD grants K12HD001097 and K23HD061611.