Eliciting parental report following pediatric traumatic brain injury: Preliminary findings on the pediatric inventory of neurobehavioral symptoms

The current article presents preliminary normative data for the Pediatric Inventory of Neurobehavioral Symptoms (PINS), a parent rating scale consisting of symptoms associated with post-traumatic cerebral dysfunction, such as disinhibition, perseveration, reduced spontaneity, inappropriate affective responses, episodic phenomena, and disruptions of biologic function. Comparison data from a sample of 50 elementary age children who had sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI) reveals significant differences on the PINS total score and each of five subscale scores. Two of the 5 PINS subscales (Episodic Symptoms, Biologic Signs) significantly differentiated the TBI and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (n = 35) groups, suggesting that these may be clinical features that distinguish post-traumatic cerebral dysfunction from developmental psychopathology. Despite the need for additional research, the PINS appears to be a promising new measure in advancing our understanding of the neurobehavioral sequelae of pediatric traumatic brain injury.