The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ)

Original Editor - Rucha Gadgil

Top Contributors - Rucha Gadgil, Kim Jackson, Chloe Waller, Nupur Smit Shah and Carina Therese Magtibay  

Introduction[edit | edit source]


The Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) is a simple, freely available, and widely used tool for assessment of the presence and severity of various post-concussion symptoms. The questionnaire was first published in 1995 to assess patients' psychosocial functioning post-concussion[1]. It contains 16 questions targeting physical, cognitive and behavioural domains. It was modified by Eyres et al. is 2005 into RPQ Modified Scoring System (RPQ 13/ RPQ-3)[2].

Intended Population[edit | edit source]

Individuals showing symptoms of Concussion after a head trauma/ brain injury.[3]

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

Equipment Required:

Questionnaire based: pen and paper

Training Required:

None

Time Required:

5-10 mins

Instrument[edit | edit source]

The questionnaire is a self-reported questionnaire containing 16 questions[1]. They are asked if after the accident they experienced any of the following:

  • Headache
  • Feelings of Dizziness
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Noise Sensitivity
  • Easily upset by loud noise
  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Fatigue, tiring more easily
  • Being Irritable, easily angered
  • Feeling Depressed or Tearful
  • Feeling frustrated or Impatient
  • Forgetfulness, poor memory
  • Poor Concentration
  • Taking Longer to Think
  • Blurred Vision
  • Light Sensitivity,
  • Easily upset by bright light
  • Double Vision
  • Restlessness

Scoring:  

The responses are scored on a scale from 0 - 4. Where 0 is not experienced at all and 4 is where severe problems are noted.

In the modified version[2]:

RPQ-3: Score of first three questions, Scoring is 0-12; if there is a higher score on the RPQ-3, earlier reassessment and closer monitoring is

recommended.

RPQ-13: Sore of next 13 questions, Scoring is 0-52; later cluster of symptoms; greater impact on participation, psychosocial functioning and lifestyle.

Psychometric properties[edit | edit source]

Reliability[4][5]:

For Head Injury: Excellent test re-test reliability, Excellent inter-rater reliability.

For Mild TBI: Adequate test re-test reliability, Adequate inter-rater reliability.

Validity[6]:

Excellent validity with Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The questionnaire can be repeated to monitor a patient’s progress over time with changes seen in severity of symptoms, or the range of symptoms. Management can be planned likewise[7].

Additional Information[edit | edit source]

Find Additional details here

Find the Questionnaire here

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 King, N. S., Crawford, S., Wenden, F.J., Moss, N.E.G. Wade, D.T. The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire: a measure of symptoms commonly experienced after head injury and its reliability. Journal of Neurology. 1995. 242, 587-592
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eyres, S., Carey, A., Gilworth, G., Neumann, V., Tennant, A. Construct validity and reliability of the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2005. 19, 878-887
  3. ↑ Crawford S, Wenden FJ, Wade DT. The Rivermead head injury follow up questionnaire: a study of a new rating scale and other measures to evaluate outcome after head injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1996 May;60(5):510-4. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.60.5.510.
  4. ↑ King NS, Crawford S, Wenden FJ, Caldwell FE, Wade DT. Early prediction of persisting post-concussion symptoms following mild and moderate head injuries. Br J Clin Psychol. 1999 Mar;38(1):15-25. doi: 10.1348/014466599162638. 
  5. ↑ Asselstine J, Kristman VL, Armstrong JJ, Dewan N. The Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire score is associated with disability and self-reported recovery six months after mild traumatic brain injury in older adults. Brain Inj. 2020;34(2):195-202. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2019.1682670
  6. ↑ de Guise E, Bélanger S, Tinawi S, Anderson K, LeBlanc J, Lamoureux J, Audrit H, Feyz M. Usefulness of the rivermead postconcussion symptoms questionnaire and the trail-making test for outcome prediction in patients with mild traumatic brain injury. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2016;23(3):213-22. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2015.1038747. 
  7. ↑ Potter, S., Leigh, E., Wade, D., Fleminger, S. The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. Journal of Neurology, October 2006.1-12.
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