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Published on: September 25, 2014
Postconcussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale: Preliminary Reliability and Validity Analysis of Cross-sectional Data
Katherine E Buzzanca-Fried1, Russell Addeo, Sarah M Lahey
1From the Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (KEB-F); Brooks Rehabilitation Clinical Research Center, Jacksonville, Florida (KEB-F, JMB); Department of Behavioral Medicine, Brooks Rehabilitation, Jacksonville, Florida (RA, SML, ZH); and Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (JMB).
This study found that anxiety strongly correlates with symptom catastrophizing in adults evaluated for concussion. Understanding this link is crucial for managing postconcussion symptoms and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Postconcussion syndrome can involve significant symptom distress.
- Catastrophizing, or magnifying the severity of symptoms, is a common cognitive bias.
- Understanding factors associated with catastrophizing is key for effective concussion management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the cross-sectional relationships between symptom catastrophizing and patient-level factors in adults with postconcussion.
- To identify predictors of symptom catastrophizing in a postconcussion cohort.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient concussion clinic.
- Adults undergoing neuropsychological evaluation were assessed.
- Internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity of the Post-Concussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical regression.
Main Results:
- The Post-Concussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.953).
- Catastrophizing scores were significantly correlated with cause of injury, litigation consideration, history of psychiatric illness, emotional functioning (anxiety, depression), symptom severity, and cognitive functioning.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder emerged as a unique predictor, explaining 64.7% of the variance in Post-Concussion Symptom Catastrophizing Scale scores.
Conclusions:
- Strong, positive relationships exist between anxiety and symptom catastrophizing in individuals evaluated for concussion.
- Anxiety is a significant predictor of symptom catastrophizing in the postconcussion population.
- These findings highlight the importance of addressing anxiety in the management of postconcussion symptoms.
