Assessing Symptoms in Adolescents Following Sport-Related Concussion: A Comparison of Four Different Approaches.

This study compared post-concussion symptom endorsements on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) between a clinical open-ended interview, clinician-guided PCSS, parent-report PCSS, and computer-based PCSS in youth athletes with sport-related concussion (SRC). Participants included 54 patients aged 13-17 years (M = 15.19, SD = 1.29, 51.8% male) with a diagnosed SRC seen at a concussion clinic. Participants were administered a computer-based version (COMP) of the PCSS followed by clinical open-ended symptom interview (OPEN) and clinician-guided PCSS (GUIDED). Participants' parents concurrently and independently endorsed their children's symptoms by completing the PCSS in the waiting room (PARENT). Total number of symptoms reported and total symptom severity score were analyzed and compared across the four PCSS administration methods. Results revealed significantly lower total number of symptoms for OPEN compared to GUIDED (p = .002), PARENT (p < .001), and COMP (p = .006); and significantly lower total severity score for OPEN compared to GUIDED (p = .04) and PARENT (p < .001). These data support using the PCSS as a structured method of assessing post-concussion symptoms and question the utility of unstructured interview methods for assessing symptoms in youth athletes with SRC.

An empirical review of treatment and rehabilitation approaches used in the acute, sub-acute, and chronic phases of recovery following sports-related concussion.

OPINION STATEMENT: Several treatment and rehabilitation approaches for sport-related concussion have been mentioned in recent consensus and position statements. These options range from the more conservative behavioral management approaches to aggressive pharmacological and therapeutic interventions. Moreover, clinical decision-making for sport-related concussion changes as symptoms and impairments persist throughout recovery. The current article provides an empirical review of proposed treatment and rehabilitation options for sport-related concussion during the acute, subacute, and chronic phases of injury.