Parent ratings of behavioural functioning in children following admission to the paediatric intensive care unit

This study aimed to explore changes in overall behavioural functioning following admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and also aimed to investigate potential predictors of subsequent behavioural problems. Using a prospective cohort design, parent reports of total, externalising, and internalising problem behaviour using the Child Behaviour Checklist (1.5-5 years, and 6-18 years) were collected for 237 children (aged 2-17 years) at the pre-admission stage and at three and six months following admission to PICU. No significant group differences were revealed across time for total, externalising, or internalising behaviours. Predictors of higher behavioural scores included pre-admission behavior problems, acute posttraumatic stress symptoms, chronic illness, whether the child had previously been admitted to PICU, and whether the child had previously experienced a hospital admission. Overall, behavioural functioning following admission to PICU was concluded to remain relatively unchanged. Acute posttraumatic stress symptoms, prior PICU admission, and prior hospital admission represented the most important predictors of subsequent behavioural problems, and further recommendations for risk factor research were discussed.