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Mild traumatic brain injury and postconcussive symptoms in children and adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2010

KEITH OWEN YEATES*
Affiliation:
Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
*
*Correspondence should be addressed to Keith Owen Yeates, Department of Psychology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, OH 43205. E-mail: keith.yeates@nationwidechildrens.org.

Abstract

The vast majority of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in children are of mild severity. Even if only a small proportion of children with mild TBI suffer negative outcomes, then mild TBI is a serious public health problem. This review summarizes the literature regarding the neurobehavioral outcomes associated with mild TBI in children and adolescents, focusing on the longstanding debate regarding postconcussive symptoms and attendant conceptual and methodological issues. The review also discusses future research directions, the long-term goal of which is to develop a comprehensive and integrated biopsychosocial model of outcomes that helps guide clinical management. (JINS, 2010, 16, 953–960.)

Type
Short Review
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2010

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