Objective: To systematically appraise the literature on the prevalence, types, and predictors of sleep-wake disturbances (SWD), and on the relationship between SWD, fatigue, depression, and quality of life in children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychInfo, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched, reference lists of retrieved articles were also searched for relevant articles, and study methods were evaluated for risk of bias. Results: Of the 620 articles assessed, 16 met inclusion criteria. Sleep-wake disturbances were common in childhood TBI. The most common types of SWD reported were insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, with mild TBI participants showing a trend toward more sleep maintenance insomnia, while sleep-onset insomnia was typical in those with moderate-severe TBI. Predictors of SWD reported in studies involving mild TBI participants included TBI severity, male sex, preexisting SWD, high body weight, and depression; while injury severity and internalizing problems were associated with SWD in moderate-severe TBI participants. Sleep-wake disturbances were also associated with fatigue and poor quality of life following TBI. Conclusion: Sleep-wake disturbances are highly prevalent in childhood TBI, regardless of injury severity. Routine assessments of SWD in survivors of childhood TBI are recommended.

Review the literature on predictors of participation and quality of life in children and young people who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and/or multi-trauma in ...

Sleep-wake disturbances (SWD) are frequent following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in childhood. However, outcomes of SWD following transition into young adulthood remain unknown. This study investigated prevalence and factors associated with subjective sleep quality, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness in young adults with a history of childhood TBI. Participants included 54 young adults with mild ( n = 14), moderate ( n = 27), and severe ( n = 13) TBI (age: mean = 27.7, SD = 3.3), and 13 typically developing controls (TDC) (age: mean = 25.9, SD = 2.2). SWD were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Compared with TDC, young adults with TBI reported a trend toward poorer sleep quality ( F [1, 63] = 3.85, p = 0.054, η ² = 0.06), with a higher risk in participants after moderate TBI (mean = 2.40, SD = 0.56) than after severe TBI (mean = 1.89, SD = 0.62: p = 0.015). However, the groups did not differ on symptoms of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, and SWD were less frequent after severe TBI at 20 years post-injury. Poor sleep quality in young adults with TBI was associated with high levels of anxiety and pain, and pain was also associated with higher risk of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Our findings indicate that sustaining TBI in childhood can increase risk of SWD in young adulthood, particularly following moderate TBI. Routine assessments and treatment of SWD, as well as anxiety and pain in children with TBI, should therefore continue into adulthood.

To describe current rehabilitation models of care and programmes, in Australia and internationally, related to family-centred care, psychosocial support, and transitions used for children and youth who have sustained major traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries. Fourteen services were interviewed, including eight medical rehabilitation services, three community-based rehabilitation services, two insurance services, and one state-wide education service provider. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis in NVivo. Compared to the number of services supporting children and youth with traumatic brain injury, a very limited number supported those with spinal cord injury. Although valued and often included in the model of care, family-centred care was rarely systematically evaluated by the services. Most services provided psychosocial and transition support to children and youth, and their families in the short-term post-injury, but not in the long-term. Several challenges also hindered the smooth delivery of these support services, including poor communication between service providers. These findings show that services aimed to provide the best possible care to these children and youth, and their families; guided by rehabilitation models of care. However, challenges persist with regards to delivering family-centred care, coordinating return to school, and providing long-term support for psychosocial problems and transition.