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Efficacy of Psychological Intervention for Children with Concurrent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Author(s) -
Shorer Maayan,
Segev Shira,
Rassovsky Yuri,
Fennig Silvana,
Apter Alan,
Peleg Tammy Pilowsky
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22512
Subject(s) - neuropsychology , traumatic brain injury , anxiety , psychology , clinical psychology , cognitive flexibility , cognition , psychiatry , depression (economics) , psychological intervention , anxiety disorder , comorbidity , intervention (counseling) , poison control , post concussion syndrome , injury prevention , medicine , concussion , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are common conditions following motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). Mild TBI and PTSD not only share similar features but may also coexist and interact. Nonetheless, research on psychotherapeutic interventions for PTSD in patients with a history of mTBI, particularly regarding pediatric populations, is limited. The present study compared the efficacy of the prolonged exposure treatment protocol for children and adolescents (PE‐A) with PTSD and mTBI ( n = 16) versus PTSD alone ( n = 21); treatment commenced at least 3 months following an MVA. Emotional status and cognitive functioning were assessed pre‐ and postintervention using questionnaires and standardized neuropsychological tests. Participants from both groups benefitted from the intervention, as reflected in their emotional status via increased ratings of well‐being and decreased ratings of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and postconcussive symptoms, η 2 = .21–.50. Ratings of cognitive function also improved for cognitive flexibility, η 2 = .30; executive function in everyday life, η 2 = .27; and attention and inhibition, η 2 = .16. Parental PTSD was the strongest predictor of improvement after intervention, sr 2 = .35. Thus, it appears that PE‐A is an effective intervention for children with MVA‐related PTSD regardless of its comorbidity with mTBI.