Post-concussion syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome
Other namesPostconcussive syndrome
SpecialtyPsychiatry, Neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation

Post-concussion syndrome (PCS), also known as persisting symptoms after concussion, is a set of symptoms that may continue for weeks, months, or years after a concussion. PCS is medically classified as a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).[1][2][3][4][5] About 35% of people with concussion experience persistent or prolonged symptoms 3 to 6 months after injury.[6] Prolonged concussion is defined as having concussion symptoms for over four weeks following the first accident in youth and for weeks or months in adults.[7]

A diagnosis may be made when symptoms resulting from concussion last for more than three months after the injury.[8][9][6] Loss of consciousness is not required for a diagnosis of concussion or post-concussion syndrome.[10] However, it is important that patients find help as soon as they notice lingering symptoms within one month, and especially when they notice their mental health deteriorating, since they are at risk of post-concussion syndrome depression.[11][12]

Though there is no specific treatment for PCS, symptoms can be improved with medications and physical and behavioral therapy. Education about symptoms and details about expectation of recovery are important. The majority of PCS cases resolve after a period of time.

  1. ^ "Post-concussion syndrome – Symptoms and causes". mayoclinic.com.
  2. ^ Rao V, Lyketsos C (2000). "Neuropsychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain injury". Psychosomatics. 41 (2): 95–103. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.41.2.95. PMID 10749946.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MittenbergStrauman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Maas A (October 18, 2022). "Mild TBI is not so mild". Lifeyana.
  5. ^ Broshek DK, Pardini JE, Herring SA (December 2022). "Persisting symptoms after concussion: Time for a paradigm shift". PM&R. 14 (12): 1509–1513. doi:10.1002/pmrj.12884. PMC 10087676. PMID 36152344.
  6. ^ a b CENTER-TBI (November 8, 2019). "Post-Concussion Symptoms in Complicated vs. Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients at Three and Six Months Post-Injury: Results from the CENTER-TBI Study". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 8 (11) – via MDPI.
  7. ^ Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. "Guidelines for Concussion/mTBI and Persistent Symptoms: 3rd Ed". braininjuryguidelines.org. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  8. ^ McHugh T, Laforce R, Gallagher P, Quinn S, Diggle P, Buchanan L (March 2006). "Natural history of the long-term cognitive, affective, and physical sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury". Brain and Cognition. 60 (2): 209–211. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2004.09.018. PMID 16646125. S2CID 53190838.
  9. ^ Bigler ED (January 2008). "Neuropsychology and clinical neuroscience of persistent post-concussive syndrome". Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 14 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1017/S135561770808017X. PMID 18078527.
  10. ^ "Post-concussion syndrome – Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic.
  11. ^ Hellewell SC, Beaton CS, Welton T, Grieve SM (May 19, 2020). "Characterizing the Risk of Depression Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis of the Literature Comparing Chronic mTBI to Non-mTBI Populations". Frontiers in Neurology. 11: 350. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00350. PMC 7248359. PMID 32508733.
  12. ^ Wienhoven M (October 18, 2022). "Post-concussion syndrome depression". Lifeyana.