[The post-concussion syndrome: understanding and treating a disease process]

The consequences of mild traumatic brain injury have been well described and are considered to be benign symptoms. So far, little is known about the chronicity of the symptoms (post-concussion syndrome) and about the treatment of the symptoms.

To review the consequences of mild traumatic brain injury and the course and treatment of the post-concussion syndrome for the purpose of improving treatment.

Recent literature was reviewed and the findings were integrated into the existing knowledge about post-concussion syndrome. results The literature reveals a dichotomy in the interpretation of post-concussion symptoms - they are regarded as being psychogenic or neurogenic. The description of the post-concussion syndrome in terms of a disease process is not new, but has been largely neglected in the literature, and represents an attempt to integrate the extreme positions.

Scientific research into post-concussion syndrome has given considerable attention to diagnostic issues, but has given much less attention to the development of treatment. Future research into the treatment of the post-concussion syndrome should result from the integration of current viewpoints and a description of the syndrome in terms of a disease process.