Emotional vulnerability linked to greater risks.
A Swedish study examined the influence of emotional reserve on post-concussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Patients (n=122) were recruited from three emergency departments. They were assessed within one week of injury and one-year post-injury. It revealed more symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress in the acute stage for patients who developed post-concussion symptoms than in those who did not.
At one year post-injury, patients with post-concussion symptoms reported more mental health difficulties pre-injury and concurrent with the injury, a lower level of functioning before the injury and more stress. They also showed more physical symptoms of anxiety, mistrust, embitterment and less resilience.
This research suggests psychological vulnerability prior to injury can influence the emergence and persistence of post-concussion symptoms after mTBI. The researchers recommend considering pre-injury emotional and cognitive state in clinical management of post-concussion symptoms.
doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020884
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