Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3428 - ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND ATTENTION DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER |
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| Contribution code | PS03-47 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition characterized by a change in brain function that is caused by a hit or blow to the head by an external force. It is a frequent condition among children. It may be manifested by neurological and cognitive symptoms that are shared with the attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as impairment in memory and attention, deficits in executive skills, and impulsiveness. Can ADHD be considered as a potential risk factor for TBI? Can ADHD be a consequence of TBI and be considered as secondary-ADHD (S-ADHD) ? Does a premorbid ADHD is associated with a worse prognosis when following a TBI ? OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to describe the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children. METHOD: We retrospectively consulted the medical records of outpatients examined and diagnosed with ADHD between January 2007 and December 2015 at the child and adolescent psychiatric unit of the university hospital of Monastir in Tunisia. We chose those who had TBI in their medical history and drew up the chronology of each clinical situation. RESULTS: Our population includes 230 outpatients diagnosed with ADHD. We identified 10 boys diagnosed with ADHD, aged from 5 to 13 years (M= 8.8 years), that had had a TBI in their medical history. The average age of the TBI was at 4.7 years. The mechanism of TBI was in 60% of the cases a road traffic accident and in 40% a domestic one. Five children needed a stay in intensive care for about 20 days. The request for a child psychiatry consultation came after an average of 3.6 years from the accident. The main reasons for this consultation were behavioral disorders and attention difficulties. When exploring cognitive and behavior functions of our patients 30% seemed having hyperactivity and impulsivity history that was worsened by the TBI. Several difficulties have been noticed when treating some patients. In fact, 60% was treated with Methylphenidate and in 20% of cases Valproate sodium was needed for anti-impulsive purpose. CONCLUSION: Results of the current study support our hypotheses. Indeed, ADHD and TBI have been shown to share a bidirectional relationship so that ADHD has been identified both as a potential risk factor and a consequence of TBI. Future longitudinal research is needed to define neural mechanisms and neurocognitive specificities of S-ADHD profile. |