Abstract
Kontos AP, Covassin T, Elbin RJ, Parker T. Depression and neurocognitive performance
after concussion among male and female high school and collegiate athletes.
Objectives
To prospectively examine the relationship of sport-related concussion with depression
and neurocognitive performance and symptoms among male and female high school and
college athletes. A secondary objective was to explore age and sex differences.
Design
Pretest, multiple posttest, repeated-measures design.
Setting
Laboratory.
Participants
High school and collegiate athletes (N=75) with a diagnosed concussion.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Beck Depression Inventory-II and computerized neurocognitive test battery (Immediate
Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test), which includes concussion symptoms
(Post-concussion Symptom Scale) at baseline and at 2, 7, and 14 days postinjury.
Results
Concussed athletes exhibited significantly higher levels of depression from baseline
at 2 days (P≤.001), 7 days (P=.006), and 14 days postconcussion (P=.04). Collegiate athletes demonstrated a significant increase in depression at 14
days postconcussion than did high school athletes (P=.03). There were no sex differences in depression levels. Neurocognitive decrements
at 14 days were supported for reaction time (P=.001) and visual memory (P=.001). Somatic depression at 7 days postconcussion was related to slower reaction
time at 7 days postconcussion. Somatic depression at 14 days postinjury was related
to lower visual memory scores at 14 days postinjury.
Conclusions
Although not clinically significant, athletes experienced increased depression scores
up to 14 days after concussion that coincided with neurocognitive decrements in reaction
time and visual memory. Somatic depression appears to be most salient with regard
to lower neurocognitive performance. Mood assessments after concussion are warranted
to help monitor and enhance recovery.
Key Words
List of Abbreviations:
ANCOVA (analysis of covariance), BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory-II), ImPACT (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment Cognitive Test)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 12, 2012
Footnotes
Supported by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
In-press corrected proof published online on May 11, 2012, at www.archives-pmr.org.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
