Data-driven evidence shows truthful caregiver histories and significant overdiagnosis of abusive head trauma

Objective

We analyzed the veracity of caregiver-provided histories when infants present with intracranial pathologies and abusive head trauma (AHT) is suspected.

Methods

A comparison of medical findings is made using data from 335 infants with acute intracranial pathologies and no extracranial findings associated with abuse. Two null hypotheses were tested: (1) that cases where caregivers reported accidental trauma have similar medical findings to independently witnessed accidents; and (2) that cases where caregivers reported no trauma have similar medical findings as cases where caregivers reported accidental trauma.

Results

The first null hypothesis is not rejected, corroborating caregiver histories of accidental trauma, yet such cases are diagnosed as AHT at significantly higher rates than accidents witnessed by unbiased independent observers. The second null hypothesis is rejected, corroborating caregiver histories that no trauma occurred.

Conclusions

Data suggest that caregivers can provide valuable diagnostic information when infants present with acute intracranial pathologies and suggest substantial rates of misdiagnosis of AHT.