Abstract

Truamatic brain injury (TBI) is among the most frequent pediatric neurological disorders and a significant contributor to childhood morbidity/mortality in the US. Although clinical indicators have been helpful in predicting long term outcomes, more effective prognostic tools are being sought. This study assessed the efficacies of acute single and multi-voxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) when predicting long-term neurocognitive functioning in pediatric TBI patients. Twenty children/adolescents (mean age 13.3 years, 5.8 SD) treated at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital for a head injury were administered measures of intellectual and neuropsychological functioning 1-4 years post injury. Without exception, patients scored markedly lower on all neurocognitive measures compared to age-matched norms. Clinical indicators of injury severity and age at injury were associated with outcomes. Early age at injury (< 8 years) and severe TBI together resulted in poor neurocognitive outcome, older age and mild injury resulted in scores within the normal range, while variable outcome was noted for patients with only one of the risk factors.

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Kiti Freier

Second Advisor

Stephen Ashwal

Third Advisor

Todd Burley

Fourth Advisor

Barbara Holshouser

Fifth Advisor

Matt Riggs

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2005

Date (Title Page)

9-2005

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Brain Injuries -- Child; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy -- psychology; Neuropsychological Tests; Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xiii; 131

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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Psychology Commons

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