Citation

Lange RT, Lippa SM, Bailie JM, Wright M, Driscoll A, Sullivan J, Gartner R, Ramin D, Robinson G, Eshera Y, Gillow K, French LM, Brickell TA. Clin. Neuropsychol. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13854046.2020.1746832

PMID

32284000

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine individual postconcussion symptom [PCSx] trajectories following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), and to examine risk factors for persistent PCSx reporting.Method: Participants were 138 U.S. military service members and veterans (SMVs) prospectively enrolled in the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 15-Year Longitudinal TBI study. Participants were classified into three groups: uncomplicated MTBI (n = 54), injured controls (IC, n = 26), and non-injured controls (NIC, n = 58). Participants completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, PTSD Checklist, and Traumatic Brain Injury Quality of Life at baseline (<8 months post-injury) and at follow-up (2-4 years post-injury).Results: The prevalence of those who met DSM-IV-TR symptom criteria for Postconcussional Disorder (PCD) was high in all three groups (e.g., 44.8-63.0%) and did not significantly change from baseline to follow-up (all ps>.05). However, there was substantial variability in individual symptom trajectories over time. The majority of participants had symptom trajectories classified as either 'persistent' (∼32-55%) or 'asymptomatic' (∼30-36%), with a substantial minority classified as 'improved' (∼7-12%) or 'developed' (∼7-19%). Factors associated with 'persistent' PCD trajectories included cognitive complaints, PTSD, depression, anxiety, pain, and headaches at baseline; but not the presence/absence of MTBI. Factors associated with 'developed' PCD trajectories included PTSD and the number of lifetime exposures to blast. Conclusions: Reporting of 'new' PCSx over time was common in individuals with and without MTBI. It would be erroneous to assume uncritically that PCSx reported many years post-injury reflect only persistent symptomatology, or can be solely attributable to the direct consequences of a brain injury.

Language: en

Keywords

Longitudinal symptom reporting; long-term outcome; military; postconcussion symptoms; uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury