Mental health risk and protective factors associated with brachial plexus birth injuries: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize the current evidence on the risk and protective factors associated with mental health in children with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) and associated interventions.

Materials and methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for reports on mental health in children with BPBI between 10 and 18 years. Risk and protective factors were charted using the VicHealth review and the Person–Environment–Occupation model.

Results

Of 732 records found, 133 full text reports were reviewed and 16 reports were included. Multiple mental health risks associated with BPBI were identified, while protective factors were largely unexplored. Person-related risks were most common including negative coping strategies (n = 8, 50%) and pain (n = 6, 38%). Most frequently reported environment and occupation risk factors were social difficulties (n = 9, 56%) and challenges with upper limb function and daily activities (n = 6, 38%). Good self-determination and/or self-concept (n = 5, 30%) was the most common protective factor.

Conclusions

Research using a strengths-based approach is needed to elucidate protective factors and further understanding of the intersection of person and socio-cultural risk factors of mental health in children with BPBI.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Evidence on mental health in children with brachial plexus birth injury largely comes from studies of quality of life and functional-status outcomes, while direct reports of mental health outcome in these children are lacking.

• Mental health risk factors in children with brachial plexus birth injury are largely understood by clinicians and researchers as person-related factors, while the multidimensional nature of these risks is relatively unexplored.

• Further investigation of mental health protective factors, such as resiliency and self-determination, will foster a strengths-based approach to rehabilitation in children with brachial plexus birth injury.

Keywords:

• Brachial plexus
• children
• mental health
• risk and protective factors
• scoping review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This scoping review was partially funded by the University of Toronto Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Psychiatry Cass Family Grants for Catalyzing Access and Change.