Journal CME, February 2024: Delirium following traumatic brain injury in adolescents: Symptomatology and prediction of ability to return to school or employment 1-year post-injury-Journal CME, February 2024: Delirium following traumatic brain injury in adolescents: Symptomatology and prediction of ability to return to school or employment 1-year post-injury

Journal CME, February 2024: Delirium following traumatic brain injury in adolescents: Symptomatology and prediction of ability to return to school or employment 1-year post-injury

Back to course

Pdf Summary

This study examined the symptomatology of delirium among adolescents with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its impact on their ability to return to school or work. The study found that delirium was prevalent among adolescents with TBI, with 40% of participants meeting the diagnostic criteria for delirium at 1 month post-injury. The most common symptoms experienced by adolescents with delirium included impairments in short- and long-term memory, attention, orientation, and sleep. Delusions and perceptual disturbances were relatively uncommon. The study also compared the symptoms experienced by adolescents to those of adults and older adults with delirium and found that the symptom profile was similar across age groups. Delirium was found to be highly predictive of poor outcomes, with adolescents who were delirious at 1 month post-TBI being significantly less likely to be rated as employable or able to return to school at the 1-year follow-up. The severity of delirium symptoms and the duration of post-traumatic amnesia were also found to be highly predictive of outcomes for TBI patients in delirium. These findings suggest that early identification and treatment of delirium in adolescents with TBI is important for improving long-term outcomes. The study supports the use of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98 (DRS-R-98) as a tool for assessing delirium symptoms and informing treatment and planning for TBI patients.

Keywords

delirium

adolescents

traumatic brain injury

symptoms

memory impairments

attention impairments

orientation impairments

sleep disturbances

outcomes

treatment