Concussion Assessment
Original Editor - Megyn Robertson
Top Contributors - Simisola Ajeyalemi, Mandy Roscher, Megyn Robertson, Kim Jackson, Samuel Adedigba, Robin Tacchetti, Rachael Lowe, Naomi O'Reilly, Tarina van der Stockt, Shaimaa Eldib, Jess Bell, Olajumoke Ogunleye and Nupur Smit Shah
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Concussion results in a constellation of physical, cognitive, visual, emotional, and sleep-related disturbances. Signs and symptoms are broad and include headache, dizziness, gait and balance disturbance, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, trouble focusing, and fatigue. A person with concussion may have slowed mental processing, concentration deficits, memory impairment, irritability, anxiety and depression. [1][2]
Emotional Assessment[edit | edit source]
An assessment to address emotional stability is beyond the scope of the physiotherapist.The gold standard for the diagnosis of mental disorders remains the structured clinical interview with a neuropsychologist. Self-report measures can play an important role in screening patients in the physiotherapy setting for referral to a Neuropsychologist/neuropsychiatrist.
Research has shown that concussions can cause new anxiety, and they can worsen existing anxiety.[3][4] Individuals with a mental health history are at risk for greater depressive and anxiety symptoms post-injury[5] worsening of their pre-existing mental health condition[6] ), and development of a novel mental health condition.[7] Neurometabolic disturbance secondary to concussion exhibits a similar pattern of brain alterations as individuals diagnosed with clinical depression on advanced neuroimaging.[8] There is evidence of alterations in limbic-frontal circuitry after concussion that resembles the functional alterations seen in major depression[9]
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Sub Heading 3[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Kushner D. Mild traumatic brain injury: toward understanding manifestations and treatment. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Aug 10-24;158(15):1617-24.
- ↑ Alexander MP. In the pursuit of proof of brain damage after whiplash injury.Neurology Editorials 1998: 51 (2) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.51.2.336
- ↑ Broshek DK, De Marco AP, Freeman JR. A review of post-concussion syndrome and psychological factors associated with concussion. Brain Inj. 2015;29(2):228-37. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2014.974674. Epub 2014 Nov 10.
- ↑ Clement D, Granquist MD, Arvinen-Barrow MM. Psychosocial aspects of athletic injuries as perceived by athletic trainers. J Athl Train. 2013 Jul-Aug;48(4):512-21. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-48.3.21. Epub 2013 May 31.
- ↑ McCauley SR, Wilde EA, Miller ER, Frisby ML, Garza HM, Varghese R, McCarthy JJ (2013). Preinjury resilience and mood as predictors of early outcome following mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of neurotrauma. 30(8):642–652.
- ↑ Bombardier CH, Fann JR, Temkin NR, Esselman PC, Barber J, Dikmen SS. Rates of major depressive disorder and clinical outcomes following traumatic brain injury.2010 Jama 303(19):1938–1945.
- ↑ Ellis MJ, Ritchie LJ, Koltek M, Hosain S, Cordingley D, Chu S, Russell K (2015b). Psychiatric outcomes after pediatric sports-related concussion. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics16(6):709–718.
- ↑ Barkhoudarian G, Hovda DA, Giza CC (2011). The molecular pathophysiology of concussive brain injury. Clinics in sports medicine 30(1):33–48.
- ↑ Chen J-K, Johnston KM, Petrides M, Ptito A. Neural substrates of symptoms of depression following concussion in male athletes with persisting postconcussion symptoms. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2008:65(1):81–89.
