The prevalence of traumatic brain injury, comorbid anxiety and other psychiatric disorders in an outpatient child and adolescent mental health service

Abstract

Background: A history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is prevalent in children and adolescents within the health system, which may be accompanied with higher rates of poor mental health outcomes including anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.

Aims: To explore rates of TBI and associated anxiety and other psychiatric diagnoses in children and adolescents aged 5–18 years within the mental health system.

Methods: Participants were recruited from an outpatient mental health service in Canterbury, New Zealand. The Ohio State University TBI Identification method was utilised to ascertain TBI history. Anxiety and other diagnoses were identified by a mental health file review.

Results: Over 28% of children in this study reported a history of TBI, the majority of which were mild. Review of mental health files revealed no significant differences between participants with and without TBI for anxiety and psychiatric diagnoses.

Conclusions: A proportionately high number of children and adolescents within the mental health system reported a previous TBI. However, anxiety and other psychiatric problems were not over-represented in this group. Further research is essential for examining the characteristics of children and adolescents with TBI within the mental health system, particularly those with more severe injuries, who may present a subgroup.

Keywords:

• Head injury
• children
• youth
• psychiatric disorders
• assessment

Acknowledgements

The study received significant contribution from Dr Harith Swadi, University of Otago, Christchurch New Zealand.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

The study was funded by Australian Research Council 10.13039/501100000923.