Affiliations: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Children
and Adolescents, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Note: [] Correspondence to: Dr. Peter Melchers, Klinik und Poliklinik
für Psychi-atrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters,
Universität zu Köln, Robert-Koch-Straße 10, D-50931 Köln,
Germany; Tel: +49-221-478-4370; Fax: +49-221-478-6104 ; E-mail:
Peter.Melchers@medizin.uni-koeln.de
Abstract: Survived traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most serious
challenges to the patient's future life. Recent literature increasingly
questions the long believed protective effects of functional cerebral
plasticity in children. Although TBI in children and adolescents is frequent,
they are less frequently admitted to rehabilitation centers as in-patients than
adults. This emphasizes the role of out-patient treatment. The progressing
study described here aims to achieve a contribution to a comprehensive approach
in TBI-rehabilitation for youngsters. A two-stage multimethodal program,
starting with stimulation in coma while the patient is on the intensive care
unit, and neuropsychological therapy after regaining consciousness is to be
evaluated in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. After including
nearly 50 % of the planned sample (100 persons), some preliminary results can
be mentioned with all applicable caution. The effectiveness of the applied
therapy can be stated here with respect to the posttraumatic development of
intellectual abilities in the 6- and 12 months follow ups. Moreover, in the
control group development of psychopathological alterations was found to a
considerable degree and also lower ratings in a quality of life questionnaire,
compared to the experimental group. It is expected to prove these differences
statistically, after the total sample has been included, and thus equal
distributions have been achieved in all predictive variables.
