Predicting Psychological Distress after Pediatric Concussion.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Child psychology
• Traumatic brain injury research

Background:

• Psychological distress is common in pediatric concussion patients.
• Predictors of this distress remain poorly understood.
• Early identification of at-risk youth is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictive factors for psychological distress following pediatric concussion.
• To test the hypothesis that pre-injury psychological distress is a primary predictor.
• To inform clinical screening and intervention strategies in acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multi-center cohort study of 311 children and adolescents (6-17 years) with concussion.
• Data collected at emergency department (ED) visits and at 4- and 12-week follow-ups.
• Psychological distress assessed using parent-completed measures (Child Behavior Checklist, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire).

Main Results:

• 23% of youth reported psychological distress at both 4 and 12 weeks post-concussion.
• Pre-injury anxiety and acute memory deficits predicted distress at 4 weeks.
• Poorer acute orientation predicted distress at 12 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Pre-injury anxiety and acute cognitive status are key predictors of post-concussion psychological distress in youth.
• Clinicians should screen for these factors in emergency departments.
• Proactive referral for mental health support is recommended for at-risk pediatric concussion patients.