Certain groups appear to be at increased risk for traumatic brain injury, but we don't know whether these TBIs have any long-term effects.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adolescents has received much attention from the media, but how often does it occur? In a research letter, investigators analyzed data from a self-report survey among 7th- to 12th-grade students in Ontario, Canada. TBI was defined as loss of consciousness for at least 5 minutes or involving overnight hospitalization. Survey questions included cause and timing of TBI (i.e., in the previous year or in the teen's lifetime), cannabis and alcohol use, and school performance.
Among the 8915 respondents, lifetime TBI was common (prevalence, 20.2%). Past-year TBI was reported by 5.6% of respondents, more commonly by boys than girls (6.9% vs. 4.3%), and over half were from sports injuries. Risk for lifetime TBI (exclud…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)