Athletes with comorbid despair and anxiousness and no current concussion  report extra post-concussion signs than “wholesome temper” athletes who’re two weeks post-concussion

By Esmeralda Garcia-Ramirez. This text was initially printed within the 1/11/24 version of our Concussion Replace e-newsletter; please contemplate subscribing.

A study carried out by Thomas G.A. et al. and printed in Translational Points in Psychological Science in contrast 119 athletes, separating them into two teams primarily based on their baseline temper disturbance and harm standing. Each teams accomplished a baseline complete neuropsychological battery and a Publish-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) evaluation. The group of athletes who have been discovered to have mixed (comorbid) despair and anxiousness however who didn’t maintain a concussion have been in contrast with athletes who had a baseline “wholesome temper” however had not too long ago sustained a concussion. The concussed athletes have been reassessed two weeks post-concussion.  

The scientists discovered that the athletes with baseline comorbid despair and anxiousness reported extra signs on the Publish-Concussion Symptom Scale, with out having a current concussion than the post-concussion athletes who had a wholesome temper at baseline. There have been no important variations within the neurocognitive evaluation outcomes between the 2 teams, a possible indicator of temper disturbances affecting cognition. Outcomes like these may cause issues, particularly for athletes, who could also be withheld from returning to play longer than could also be crucial primarily based on assuming that their issues are from the concussion. 

 So, how will we inform the distinction between a concussion and underlying psychological well being situations? An article by Medical Categorical interviewed Peter Arnett and Garrett Thomas, who carried out the examine talked about above and agreed that it’s important to conduct baseline testing from day one. Thomas says that being conscious of somebody’s psychological well being situations, to start with, may also help make “correct comparisons after the individual suffers a concussion” and start enhancing one’s psychological well being and concussion.