Although Postconcussion syndrome (PCS) only develops in a minority of cases of mild traumatic brain injury, affected individuals can experience significant distress and prove challenging for services. This paper outlines the risk factors for PCS, relevant theoretical models are discussed, and studies of therapeutic interventions reviewed. It is concluded that early intervention is beneficial, but much further research is required in order to determine which aspects of interventions are most effective for chronic PCS.
Alves W., Macciocchi SN, Barth JT1993. Postconcussive symptoms after uncomplicated head injury . J Head Trauma Rehab8: 48—59.
2.
Anderson T., Heitger M., Macleod AD2006. Concussion and mild head injury. Prac Neurol6: 342—57.
3.
Anson K., Ponsford J.2006. Evaluation of a coping skills group following traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj20: 167—78.
4.
Bazarian JJ, Wong T., Harris M.1999. Epidemiology and predictors of post-concussive syndrome after minor head injury in an emergency population. Brain Inj13: 173—89.
5.
Belanger HG, Curtiss G., Demery JA2005. Factors moderating neuropsychological outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis. J Int Neuropsychol Soc11: 215—27.
6.
Boake C., McCauley SR, Levin HS2005. Diagnostic criteria for postconcussional syndrome after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci17: 350—6.
7.
Bryant RA, Moulds M., Guthrie R., Nixon RDV.2003. Treating acute stress disorder following mild traumatic brain injury. Am J Psychiat160: 585—7.
8.
Cicerone KD2002. Remediation of `working attention' in mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj16: 185—95.
9.
Comper P., Bisschop SM, Carnide N., Tricco A.2005. A systematic review of treatments for mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj19: 863—80.
10.
Davies R., McMillan TM2005. Opinion about post-concussion syndrome in health professionals . Brain Inj19: 941—7.
11.
Fenton G., McClelland R., Montgomery A.1993. The Postconcussional syndrome: social antecedents and psychological sequelae. Br J Psychiatry162: 493—7.
12.
Gurr B., Coetzer BR2005. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for post-traumatic headaches. Brain Inj19: 481—91.
Iverson GL2006. Misdiagnosis of the persistent postconcussion syndrome in patients with depression. Arch Clin Neuropsychol21: 303—10.
15.
Iverson GL, Lange RT2003. Examination of postconcussion-like symptoms in a healthy sample. App Neuropsychol10: 137—44.
16.
Iverson GL, McCracken LM1997. `Postconcussive' symptoms in persons with chronic pain . Brain Inj11: 783—90.
17.
King NS1996. Emotional, neuropsychological, and organic factors: their use in the prediction of persisting postconcussion symptoms after moderate and mild head injuries. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry61: 75—81.
18.
King N.1997. Mild head injury: Neuropathology, sequelae, measurement and recovery. Br J Clin Psychol36: 161—184.
19.
King NS2003. Post-concussion syndrome: clarity amid the controversy ? Br J Psychiatry183: 276—8.
20.
Luis CA, Vanderplog RD, Curtiss G.2003. Predictors of postconcussion symptom complex in community dwelling male veterans. J Int Neuropsychol Soc7: 1001—5.
21.
McIntosh GC1997. Medical management of noncognitive sequelae of minor traumatic brain injury. App Neuropsychol4: 62—8.
22.
Miller LJ, Mittenberg W.1998. Brief cognitive behavioural interventions in mild traumatic brain injury. App Neuropsychol5: 172—83.
23.
Mittenberg W., DiGiulio DV, Perrin S., Bass AE1992. Symptoms following head injury: expectation as etiology . J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry55: 611—6.
24.
Mittenberg W., Tremont G., Zeilinski RE1996. Cognitive-behavioral prevention of postconcussion syndrome . Arch Clin Neuropsychol11: 139—45.
25.
Mooney G., Speed J., Sheppard S.2005. Factors relating to recovery after mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj19: 975—87.
26.
Nolin P., Villemure R., Heroux L.2006. Determining long-term symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury: method of interview affects self-report. Brain Inj20: 1147—54.
27.
Paniak C., Toller-Lobe G., Reynolds S.2000. A randomized trial of two treatments for mild traumatic brain injury: 1 year follow-up. Brain Inj14: 219—26.
28.
Ponsford J., Willmott C., Rothwell A.2000. Factors influencing outcome following mild traumatic brain injury in adults. J Int Neuropsychol Soc6: 568—79.
29.
Ponsford J., Willmott C., Rothwell A.2002. Impact of early intervention on outcome following mild head injury in adults. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry73: 330—2.
30.
Potter S., Leigh E., Wade D., Fleminger S.2006. The Rivermead post concussion symptoms questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis. J Neurol253: 1603—14.
31.
Van Zomeran AH, Van Denberg W.1985. Residual complaints of patients two years after severe head injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry48: 21—8.
32.
Wade DT, Crawford S., Wenden FJ, King NS, Moss NEG.1997. Does routine follow up after head injury help? A randomised controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry62: 478—84.
33.
Wade DT, King NS, Wenden FJ, Crawford S., Caldwell FE1998. Routine follow up after head injury: a second randomised controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry65: 177—83.
34.
Whittaker R., Kemp S., House A.2007. Illness perceptions and outcome in mild head injury: a longitudinal study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry78: 644—6.
35.
Wood RL2004. Understanding the `miserable minority': a diasthesis-stress paradigm for postconcussional syndrome. Brain Inj18: 1135—53.
36.
Wood RL2007. Post concussional syndrome: all in the mind's eye! J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry78: 552.
