OBJECTIVE:
Use a
longitudinal birth cohort to evaluate the association of traumatic brain injury
at ages 0 to 5, 6 to 15, and 16 to 21 years with drug and alcohol abuse and
engagement in criminal activities.
MAIN MEASURES:
Follow-up
over 21 to 25 years using self-report of drug and alcohol use, arrests, and
violent and property offenses. Outcomes were assessed for 2 levels of severity
(inpatient, hospitalized; outpatient, seen by general practitioner or at
emergency department).
RESULTS:
Adjusted
for child and family factors, compared with noninjured individuals, inpatients
injured at 0 to 5 years or 16 to 21 years were more likely to have symptoms
consistent with drug dependence. All inpatient groups had increased risk of
arrest, with the age groups of 0 to 5 and 6 to 15 years more likely to be
involved in violent offenses and the age group of 0 to 5 years more likely to
engage in property offenses. Outpatient group had an increased risk of violent
offenses for first injury 0 to 5 years, arrests and property offenses for
injury 6 to 15 years, and increased risk of arrests and violent offenses for
injury 16 to 21 years of age. However, when alcohol dependence and drug
dependence were added as an additional covariate, traumatic brain injury was no
longer associated with criminal behavior for the age group of 0 to 5 years.
CONCLUSIONS:
Traumatic
brain injury is associated with increased criminal behavior and may represent a
risk factor for offending. However, early substance use is a mediating factor
for those injured early in life.
1Monash University, School of Psychology and
Psychiatry, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McKinlay); Department of
Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand (Dr McKinlay);
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ohio State University
Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (Dr Corrigan); and Christchurch Health and
Development Study, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand (Mr Horwood
and Dr Fergusson).
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