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Cogniphobia in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Noah D Silverberg1,2,3, Grant L Iverson2,4, William Panenka5
11 Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada .
Journal of Neurotrauma
|January 25, 2017
Summary
Cogniphobia, the fear of mental exertion causing headaches, is linked to worse memory after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This avoidance may reflect a broader coping pattern post-injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Headaches are common after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and can become chronic.
- Cogniphobia, the fear of mental exertion due to headache concerns, is hypothesized to worsen cognitive outcomes in mTBI patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cogniphobia and cognitive performance in patients with mTBI and post-traumatic headaches.
- To explore whether cogniphobia contributes to persistent disability after mTBI.
Main Methods:
- Eighty patients with mTBI and post-traumatic headaches were assessed 2-3 months post-injury.
- Participants completed questionnaires, including a cogniphobia scale, and neuropsychological tests.
- A cross-sectional design was employed.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of cogniphobia were reported by participants with more severe headaches.
- Cogniphobia was significantly associated with lower performance on memory tests, independent of headache severity.
- Avoidance of mental exertion correlated with avoidance of physical activity and trauma triggers.
Conclusions:
- Cogniphobia may play a role in persistent cognitive difficulties following mTBI.
- Cogniphobia might represent a broader avoidant coping style in individuals recovering from mTBI.
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