Symptom Factors and Neuropsychological Performance in Collegiate Athletes with Chronic Concussion Symptoms

Author(s):  
Erin Guty ◽  
Kaitlin Riegler ◽  
Jessica Meyer ◽  
Alexa E Walter ◽  
Semyon M Slobounov ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The present study explored the relationship between specific types of postconcussion symptoms and cognitive outcomes in student–athletes with chronic concussion symptoms. Method Forty student–athletes with chronic concussion symptoms were given a battery of neuropsychological tests and rated themselves on a variety of postconcussion symptoms, which included the following factors derived from prior work: Physical, Sleep, Cognitive, Affective, and Headache. Cognitive outcomes included performance on composites for the memory and attention/executive functioning speed tests, respectively. The following covariates were also explored: Sex, depression symptoms, number of previous concussions, and time since injury. Results Headache was the only individual symptom factor that significantly (p < .05) predicted worse attention/executive functioning performance. None of the symptom factors were significantly related to memory performance over and above the variable of time since injury, such that longer time since injury was related to worse memory performance. Conclusion Comparable to work examining symptom predictors of cognitive outcomes in acutely concussed samples, headache predicted worse attention/executive functioning performance. Additionally, we found that the longer athletes had been symptomatic since injury, the “worse” their memory functioning. Understanding how headache and the length of time an individual is symptomatic are related to cognitive outcomes can help inform treatment and recommendations for athletes with prolonged symptom recovery.

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne C. T. Groot ◽  
Barbara A. Wilson ◽  
Jonathan Evans ◽  
Peter Watson

AbstractProspective remembering has been relatively underinvestigated in neurological patients. This paper describes a group study in which the prospective memory performance of 36 people with brain injury and 28 control participants is compared. We used a new instrument, the Cambridge Behaviour Prospective Memory Test (CBPMT) to assess prospective memory. This comprises 4 time-based and 4 event-based tasks. Participants were allowed to take notes to help them remember the tasks. The relationships between CBPMT scores, scores on formal tests and subjective reports on memory, attention and executive functioning were analyzed. The key findings were that (1) note-taking significantly benefited prospective memory performance, (2) significant relationships were found between scores on the prospective memory test and scores on tests of memory and executive functions, and (3) participants had more difficulty with the time-based than with the event-based prospective memory tasks. The results suggest that compensatory strategies improve prospective memory functioning; memory for content as well as attention and executive functioning processes are involved in prospective memory; and that time-based tasks are more difficult than event-based tasks because they place higher demands on inhibitory control mechanisms. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gray Vargas ◽  
Amanda Rabinowitz ◽  
Jessica Meyer ◽  
Peter A. Arnett

Context: Depression is common after concussion and is associated with functional outcome and quality of life after injury. However, few baseline predictors of postconcussion depressive symptoms (PCDS) have been found. Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a collegiate athlete sample at baseline and postconcussion, compare these levels of symptoms and change in symptoms with those of a control group with no reported concussions in the past year, and examine the baseline predictors for PCDS. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Undergraduate institution. Patients or Other Participants: Participants were 84 collegiate athletes (65 men, 19 women) with concussion and 42 individuals (23 men, 21 women) with no history of recent concussion who served as controls. Main Outcome Measure(s): The Beck Depression Inventory–Fast Screen was administered to the concussion group at baseline and postconcussion and to the control group at 2 time points. Results: Seventeen athletes (20%) showed a reliable increase in depression, and more athletes reported clinically important depression postconcussion than at baseline. Only 2 participants (5%) in the control group showed a reliable increase in depression. Concussed athletes were more likely to show a reliable increase in depression symptoms than control participants (χ21 = 5.2, P = .02). We also found several predictors of PCDS in the athletes, including baseline depression symptoms (r = 0.37, P < .001), baseline postconcussion symptoms (r = 0.25, P = .03), estimated premorbid intelligence (full-scale IQ; r = −0.29, P = .009), and age of first participation in organized sport (r = 0.34, P = .002). For the control group, predictors of depression symptoms at time 2 were number of previous head injuries (r = 0.31, P = .05) and baseline depression symptoms (r = 0.80, P < .001). Conclusions: A large proportion of athletes showed a reliable increase in depression after concussion, and we identified several baseline predictors. Given that depression affects quality of life and recovery from concussion, more research is necessary to better understand why certain athletes show an increase in PCDS and how these can be better predicted and prevented.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Luck ◽  
Francisca S. Then ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Matthias L. Schroeter ◽  
Katrin Arélin ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Bedker Meyer

Semistructured interviews are used to examine the attitudes and subjective feelings of female collegiate athletes concerning their roles as student-athletes. The women begin college with an idealistic view of education; this view is strengthened over time. The athletic subculture the women are a part of, as well as their classroom and academic experiences, may to some degree influence or reinforce their educational optimism. The results of the current study are compared to those of Adler and Adler (1985), who studied male athletes. The experiences in question are discussed and possible explanations for the gender related similarities/differences are explored.


Author(s):  
Alexis Peters ◽  
Julliana Tapia ◽  
Stephanie H. Clines

Focused Clinical Question: Does the implementation of a psychoeducational program increase mental health knowledge among collegiate student-athletes? Clinical Bottom Line: There is consistent, limited-quality patient-oriented evidence to suggest that implementation of a psychoeducational program is effective in increasing mental health knowledge in collegiate student-athletes based on the guidelines of the strength of recommendation taxonomy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Warsaw ◽  
Andrew Jones ◽  
Abigail K. Rose ◽  
Alice Newton-Fenner ◽  
Sophie Alshukri ◽  
...  

Introduction: Screen-based and mobile technology has grown at an unprecedented rate. However, little is understood about whether increased screen-use affects executive functioning (EF), the range of mental processes that aid goal attainment and facilitate the selection of appropriate behaviors. To examine this, a systematic review was conducted.Method: This systematic review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus databases to identify articles published between 2007 and March 2020, examining the use of mobile technologies on aspects of EF in healthy adults aged 18–35 years. In total 6079 articles were screened by title, and 39 screened by full text. Eight eligible papers were identified for inclusion. Our methods were pre-registered on the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews.Results: A total of 438 participants were included across the eight studies. Five of the eight studies examined more than one EF. Five studies measured inhibition, and four studies measured decision-making. Smartphone use was negatively associated with inhibition and decision-making. Working memory performance was found to be improved by increased time engaging in video games and by refraining from smartphone use prior to bedtime. Quality assessments indicated high risk of methodological biases across the studies and a low quality of evidence for determining the relationship between technology use and executive functioning.Conclusions: This review highlights the scarcity of the literature in this area. It presents a call for rigorous and objective research to further our understanding of the impact of mobile technology on different aspects of executive function.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Nabila Bazli ◽  
Mohammad Saipol Mohd Sukor ◽  
Mastura Mahfar ◽  
Thuaibah@Suaibah Abu Bakar

  Collegiate athletes displayed different aggressive tendencies in an off-field situation based on the sports that they play. This study was conducted to identify the level and differences of aggressive behavior among athletes in a public university in Malaysia. A total of 91 student-athletes that represented different types of sports participated in this study. The instrument used to measure the aggressive behaviour among athletes was the Aggression Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the level of aggressive behaviour and the independent t-test was used to analyze the differences of aggressive behaviour based on demographic factors such as gender and types of sports. The findings revealed that the level of aggressive behaviour among athletes in the university are at a low level and there is no significant differences in aggressive behaviour based on gender and types of sports. This study contributes to the literature on the aggressive behavior in the context of student-athletes in higher education institution.


Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (14 Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S12.1-S12
Author(s):  
Corey Lanois ◽  
Francis Wang ◽  
Brant Berkstresser ◽  
Jessie Oldham ◽  
William Meehan ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate differences in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores between acutely concussed collegiate student-athletes and healthy, matched group of collegiate athletes.BackgroundMood disturbances have been documented acutely following concussion. The presence of anxiety and/or depression may complicate and prolong concussion recovery among some athletes. Therefore, it is important to examine acute post-injury anxiety and depression to facilitate proper management decisions.Design/MethodsTwenty-six student-athletes (54% female, 19.92 ± 5.56 years of age) with a diagnosed concussion completed the HADS questionnaire within a week of injury. Twenty-six healthy student-athletes (54% female, 18.82 ± 0.54 years of age) completed the HADS during pre-season baseline testing, individually matched by sex and sport. Independent samples t-tests were used to explore differences in HADS scores between groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference (p = 0.50) between total HADS scores of the concussion group (6.77 ± 6.17) and healthy cohort (5.81 ± 3.85). There were also no significant differences between concussion and uninjured groups on the HADS Anxiety subscale (4.38 ± 4.24 vs. 4.50 ± 2.83; p = 0.91) or HADS Depression subscale (2.38 ± 2.82 vs. 1.31 ± 1.67; p = 0.10).ConclusionsHADS scores obtained among collegiate student athletes acutely following concussion did not significantly differ relative to matched healthy control participants. It is possible that one week post-injury was not enough time to observe measurable effects of anxiety or depression, as those are commonly seen in cases of prolonged recovery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 448-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Ernst ◽  
Meredith E. Kneavel

Context A novel peer concussion-education program (PCEP) was developed to enhance concussion knowledge and reporting among collegiate student-athletes. Objective To describe the PCEP and its development and implementation. Design Program development consisting of a literature review, focus group, and pilot implementation. Setting Athletics department at a college participating at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II-sanctioned competition level. Patients or Other Participants Fifteen student-athletes from the women's soccer and men's lacrosse teams participated in the focus group. Four peer concussion educators (PCEs) were debriefed after the pilot implementation of the PCEP with the women's soccer and men's lacrosse teams. Data Collection and Analysis Focus-group data were analyzed qualitatively. The PCEs were debriefed, and responses were organized into recommendation types. Results The literature review contributed information that supported the development of the PCEP's conceptual model. Focus-group results provided information used to train the PCEs and refine the PCEP's education modules. The pilot implementation and PCE debriefing supplied information used to further revise the education modules, PCE training, and PCEP implementation procedure. Conclusions The PCEP was developed based on the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior and uses a peer-mediated, cognitive-behavioral, and interdisciplinary model to enhance concussion knowledge of and reporting by collegiate student-athletes. After a focus-group discussion and pilot implementation, we revised the PCEP and its education modules and developed an online manual to facilitate broad dissemination.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey C. McGuire ◽  
Yvette M. Ingram ◽  
Michael L. Sachs ◽  
Ryan T. Tierney

Depression rates in collegiate student-athletes in the literature are varied and inconclusive, and data have only explored depression symptoms utilizing a crosssectional design. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the temporal course of depression symptoms in student-athletes. Student-athletes (N = 93) from a Division II institution completed six administrations of a brief depression symptom screen once every 2 weeks throughout the fall athletic season. Ten (10.8%) student-athletes’ PHQ-9 surveys were red-flagged for moderate to severe depression symptoms at least once throughout the season. A mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant interaction effect for time and sex in depression symptom scores, F(3.69, 335.70) = 10.36, p ≤ .001. The repeated-measures design of this study suggests that there are clinical benefits for screening for depression symptoms in student-athletes at multiple intervals throughout an athletic season.


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