Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Development of an Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model Modified by Weight-Drop Method and Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 11, 2025
Assessment method influences the severity and type of symptoms reported after self-reported mild traumatic brain
Shannon L Edmed1, Karen A Sullivan, Alicia C Allan
1a Clinical Neuropsychology Research Group, School of Psychology and Counselling , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia.
Objective:
To investigate the influence of assessment method (spontaneous report versus checklist) on the report of postconcussive syndrome (PCS) symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Setting:
Community.
Participants:
Thirty-six participants (58% female) with postacute self-reported mTBI (i.e., sustained 1-6 months prior to participation) and 36 age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched controls with no history of mTBI.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Main Measures:
Spontaneous symptom report from open-ended questions and checklist endorsed symptoms from the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (both measures administered online).
Results:
Assessment method significantly affected individual symptom item frequencies (small to large effects), the number of symptoms reported, the total severity score, domain severity scores (i.e., somatic/sensory, cognitive, and affective symptom domains), and the number of participants who met a PCS caseness criterion (large effects; checklist > spontaneous report). The types of symptoms that were different between the groups differed for the assessment methods: Compared to controls, the nonclinical mTBI group spontaneously reported significantly greater somatic/sensory and cognitive domain severity scores, whilst no domain severity scores differed between groups when endorsed on a checklist.
Conclusions:
Assessment method can alter the number, severity, and types of symptoms reported by individuals who have sustained an mTBI and could potentially influence clinical decisions.
