Examining the Relationship Between Head Injuries and Depression in Youth Populations 6 Months Post-injury
Author(s)
Abstract
Head injury is a prevalent issue that accounts for over 80% of traumatic injuries leading to death in the United States (Verive, Stock, Singh, 2017). Previous studies have confirmed the link between brain injury and subsequent development of a mood disorder (Luis & Mittenberg, 2010). Our research expands this finding by examining the link between perceived injury severity and the development of depression symptoms 6 months post injuries in head injury patients compared to orthopedic injury controls not experiencing a head injury. The recruited sample included a diverse range of child and adolescent participants with considerable variation in injury type and severity. Levels in depression after a head injury were assessed in early adolescents at one week and six months. Data was collected from a larger study examining risk and resilience factors associated with a pediatric injury resulting in an emergency room visit. To assess pediatric head injury, data was pulled from participant medical charts to assess injury type. This was used in conjunction with patient self-reports assessing subjective appraisal, S&S appraisal. The S & S appraisal evaluated cognitive appraisal and perceived severity of the injury. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The present analysis explores the development of mood disruptions post-head injury by examining the subjective appraisal towards the event. Additionally, this analysis explores injury type to further differentiate head injury from an orthopedic injury and subsequent psychopathology.
Format
Conference Proceeding
Contributor(s)
Faculty Mentor
Douglas Delahanty
Modified Abstract

Head injury participants were compared to orthopedic controls to examine the correlation between perceived injury severity and the development of depression symptoms 6 months post-injury. The recruited sample included a diverse range of child and adolescent participants with considerable variation in injury type and severity. The S & S appraisal was used to evaluate cognitive appraisal and perceived severity of the injury. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The present analysis explores the development of mood disruptions post-head injury by examining the subjective appraisal towards the event. Additionally, this analysis explores injury type to further differentiate head injury from an orthopedic injury and subsequent psychopathology.
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/ugresearch/2020/psychology/examining-relationship-between-head-injuries-and-depression-youth
Cramer, A., Granson, M., Molle, K., & Samii, M. (n.d.). Examining the Relationship Between Head Injuries and Depression in Youth Populations 6 Months Post-injury (1–). https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10247
Cramer, Athena, Maisey Granson, Kathryn Molle, and Marielle Samii. n.d. “Examining the Relationship Between Head Injuries and Depression in Youth Populations 6 Months Post-Injury”. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10247.
Cramer, Athena, et al. Examining the Relationship Between Head Injuries and Depression in Youth Populations 6 Months Post-Injury. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/10247.