Article

The psychological and psychiatric outcome of children with acquired brain
injury is influenced by many variables. A review was undertaken to clarify the
contribution of family function, how it relates to injury severity, and what
particular aspects of family function influence psychological outcome in this
group. METHOD: A systematized review of the literature of studies published
between 1970 and 2012 from OvidMedline, PsychoInfo, PsycARTICLES, and Cochrane
was undertaken focusing on family function, injury severity, and psychiatric
outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-six papers met the inclusion criteria. Injury severity
was linked to the development of organic personality change. Family function
before injury, measured by the Family Assessment Device or the Clinical Rating
Scale, had a statistically significant effect on general psychological
functioning in six out of eight studies. Family function had a significant effect
for oppositional defiant disorder and secondary attention-deficit-hyperactivity
disorder. The effects of family function may differ depending on the age of the
child and the severity of the injury. Some styles of parenting moderated
recovery. After injury, family function was related to the child's
contemporaneous psychiatric symptoms. The level of evidence for these papers was
3 or 4 (Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine criteria). INTERPRETATION:
Screening for some aspects of family functioning before injury and family
function during the rehabilitation phase may identify children at risk of
psychiatric disorders.
CI - (c) 2013 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS