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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Development and Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Technology Enhanced Care Pathway for Youth and Adults with Concussion
Published on: January 20, 2019
Design of an early intervention for persistent post-concussion symptoms in adolescents and young adults: A
Mille Moeller Thastum1, Charlotte Ulrikka Rask1,2, Erhard Trillingsgaard Naess-Schmidt3
1The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
A new multidisciplinary intervention shows promise for young patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS). This early intervention is feasible and improves quality of life, potentially preventing long-term PCS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) affect 5-15% of individuals after concussion, lasting over 3 months.
- Long-term PCS can significantly impact quality of life and daily functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of a novel, individually tailored, 8-week multidisciplinary intervention for young patients with persistent PCS.
- To evaluate the impact of this intervention on symptom reduction and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- A non-randomized feasibility study involved 32 patients (15-30 years) with PCS (2-4 months post-injury).
- Intervention was multidisciplinary and individually tailored over 8 weeks.
- Assessments included the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ), Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), and Quality of Life after Brain Injury - Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) at baseline, end of intervention, and 3- and 12-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- 23 patients (72%) completed the intervention, reporting high satisfaction (ESQ).
- Significant reduction in PCS (RPQ score decrease of -8.9 points, p < 0.001) and improvement in quality of life (QOLIBRI-OS score increase of +10.5 points, p = 0.010) were observed from baseline to end of intervention.
- These improvements were sustained at 3- and 12-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The early, multidisciplinary intervention is feasible for young patients with persistent PCS.
- This intervention may help prevent the chronification of post-concussion symptoms.
- A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is underway to further validate the intervention's efficacy.
Background:
About 5-15 % of patients with concussion experience persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) longer than 3 months post-injury.
Objective:
To explore the feasibility of a new intervention for young patients with persistent PCS and long-term changes after intervention.
Methods:
Thirty-two consecutive patients (15-30 years) with persistent PCS 2-4 months post-injury were recruited from a cohort study or referred to a non-randomized feasibility study of an individually tailored, 8-week, multidisciplinary intervention. Assessment was performed at baseline, end of intervention (EOI), and at 3- and 12-month follow-up (FU). Main measures were The Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ), Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) and The Quality of Life after Brain Injury - Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS).
Results:
Twenty-three (72%) patients completed the intervention. The ESQ demonstrated high patient satisfaction. There was a decrease of PCS and an increase in quality of life from baseline to EOI: RPQ score -8.9 points, 95% CI 4.5 to 13.3, p < 0.001; QOLIBRI-OS score +10.5 points, 95% CI 2.5 to 18.5, p = 0.010. Improvement was maintained at 3- and 12-month FU.
Conclusion:
The new early intervention is feasible and may prevent chronification of PCS. An RCT is currently performed to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
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