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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
Predicting Concussion Recovery with PHQ-9 and GAD-7
Dusty Marie Narducci1, Byron Moran1, Eric Coris1
1From the Department of Family Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine Office of Research, and Department of Orthopedics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, and Department of Physical Therapy, Creighton University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Objective:
To determine whether scores obtained from Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) instruments administered following a concussion can be used to predict recovery time.
Method:
Retrospective cohort study in a university-based specialty concussion center of 502 concussed participants. Participants completed a PHQ-9 and GAD-7 during their initial visit and subsequent visits during the recovery period (ie, at 14, 28, 56, and 84 days).
Results:
The median recovery time from a concussion was 21 days from the initial clinical evaluation; however, individuals with a PHQ-9 score ≤ 6 (n = 262) had a median recovery time of 17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 15-19) days, whereas those with PHQ-9 scores >6 (n = 240) had a median recovery time of 33 (95% CI 28-37) days and a hazard ratio of 0.525 (95% CI 0.438-0.629, P < 0.0001). For individuals with a GAD-7 score ≤ 4 (n = 259), the median recovery was 19 (95% CI 17-21), days whereas for those with a GAD-7 score > 4 (n = 243), the median recovery was 32 (95% CI 28-36) days with a hazard ratio of 0.554 (95% CI 0.462-0.664, P < 0.00).
Conclusions:
Scores obtained from PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening tools appear to be predictive of an individual's recovery and may help identify those subjects who may benefit from early psychological interventions.
