Predictors, Influencing Factors, and Intervention Methods of Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms – a Prospective Study

Background: Post-concussion symptoms (PCS) are not uncommon after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Even though those symptoms might be recovered after 3 months post-injury, few patients may suffer from the persistent PCS (PPCS) for several months, even years. In fact, PPCS may cause a significant deterioration of social and occupational functioning in patients with mTBI. Unfortunately, it is still unclear to fully understand the PPCS due to the methodological weaknesses in the past studies. The present study thus aims to find the predictors and influencing factors of the PPCS by correcting those methodological flaws, and further to establish a effective intervention method to deal with the PPCS from the acute stage after mTBI. Methods: This study is consisted of 2 phases within 3 years. During the first phase, a prospective study with 80 participants who have suffered from mTBI is conducted in 2 years. The PCS, cognitive functions, emotion and behaviors, stress-coping abilities and clinical outcomes are evaluated for all subjects. During the second phase, an established intervention method is utilized to resolve the participants’ complaints in the acute stage post-injury. Expected results: Patients with mTBI reported significant PCS, and 10% of the patients suffered from the PPCS. Our results may show that the specific pre-injury personality characteristics are the major predictors of the PPCS, while the anxiety is one of the main influencing factors of the PPCS. Finally, this study also demonstrated a remarakble effectiveness of the early-intervention method for mTBI.

Project ID:PF10107-1565
External Project ID:NSC101-2410-H182-009-MY2