Treatment-seeking and perceived helpfulness among individuals with persistent post-concussion symptoms

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) affect a significant portion of individuals after mild traumatic brain injury.
• Understanding treatment utilization and its impact on symptom recovery is crucial for effective patient management.
• Current rehabilitation approaches for PPCS are diverse, but their effectiveness and association with symptom change require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the types of treatments utilized by individuals with PPCS within the first year post-injury.
• To assess the perceived helpfulness of various treatments among individuals with PPCS.
• To explore the association between treatment engagement and symptom change over time in individuals with PPCS.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study enrolled 40 individuals with PPCS.
• Participants completed symptom assessments using the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) at baseline and 3-month follow-up.
• Data were collected on the number, type, and perceived helpfulness of treatments received.

Main Results:

• Most participants (83%) received one or more treatments, primarily medication and psychotherapy.
• A high percentage of reported treatments were perceived as helpful (71.4%-100%).
• While participants showed significant symptom improvement from baseline to follow-up, treatment involvement or the number of treatments did not significantly correlate with symptom change.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with PPCS engage in diverse treatments that they generally find helpful.
• Despite treatment utilization, many individuals continue to experience significant symptoms.
• There is a need for coordinated, evidence-based care and more precise identification of effective treatment components in PPCS rehabilitation.