Postconcussive Symptom Complaints and Potentially Malleable Positive Predictors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between postconcussion symptom complaint (PCS) severity and positive coping factors (knowledge, self-efficacy, and attributions) in a sample of individuals who have sustained a mild TBI, above and beyond the demographic and psychiatric predictors that have been most commonly examined. Ninety-one people with a history of reported mild TBI were surveyed. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that demographic variables and psychiatric symptom severity predicted PCS severity. Consistent with our hypotheses, knowledge, self-efficacy, and attributions, when taken together, made an independent and significant contribution to prediction of PCS severity (21% of additional variance). The most potent factor was attribution, or the extent to which one attributes symptoms to mild TBI versus other causes. Those who attribute their symptoms to TBI are more likely to report greater symptom severity overall. Taken together, knowledge, self-efficacy, and attributions contribute independently to PCS severity. Additional research is needed to determine if these factors are amenable to intervention.

A review of post-concussion syndrome and psychological factors associated with concussion

“…Belanger et al [63] recently examined the role of selfefficacy, knowledge about mTBI and attribution of symptoms to mTBI as factors that might account for additional variance in post-concussion symptoms beyond that accounted for by demographic variables and psychiatric predictors. While selfefficacy did not uniquely add information about the severity of persisting symptoms, the most significant predictor was attribution.…”

The contribution of psychological factors to recovery after mild traumatic brain injury: Is cluster analysis a useful approach?

“…In addition 70-90% of all treated traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases likely fall in the mild range of severity [1,4]. While most recover, for some the trajectory is for persisting symptoms and functional difficulties for many months and even years [1,5,6]. Accordingly, key unresolved clinical issues for the management of MTBI include reliable prediction of those at risk for slow and incomplete recovery and identification of modifiable risk factors.…”

Resilience, traumatic brain injury, depression, and posttraumatic stress among Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans.

“…The majority of returning veterans report few if any psychological problems following warzone deployment. Pre-injury self-reported resilience (McCauley et al, 2013) and protective psychological characteristics (e.g., attributions about symptoms, self-efficacy; Belanger, Barwick, Kip, Kretzmer & Vanderploeg, 2013) are associated with less distress among individuals with mild TBI (mTBI). Resilience appears to have beneficial effects on adjustment among persons with chronic conditions by facilitating the experience of positive emotions and influencing cognitive appraisals of symptoms (Ong, Zautra, & Reid, 2010).…”