Effectiveness of interventions for the improvement of mental health and well-being post-concussion: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Objective

To identify and assess the effectiveness and quality of interventions targeted at improving mental health, well-being, and psychosocial impairments post-concussion.

Data sources

EBSCOHost, SPORTSDiscus, PsychINFO, Medline (Web of Science), PubMed, and Embase databases.

Review methods

This systematic review is reported in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement in exercise, rehabilitation, sport medicine and sports science (PERSiST). Articles were included if they: (1) were randomized controlled trials or repeated measures pre-posttest study designs, (2) reported mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion injury, and (3) evaluated interventions targeting mental health, well-being, and psychosocial impairments post-injury.

Results

Twenty-three studies were included which evaluated interventions targeting mental health, well-being, and psychosocial impairments post-concussion. Interventions included cognitive rehabilitation (n = 7), psychotherapy (n = 7), psychoeducational (n = 3), neurocognitive training (n = 4), neurocognitive training combined with cognitive rehabilitation (n = 1), and psychotherapy combined with cognitive rehabilitation (n = 1). The seven (100%) cognitive rehabilitation intervention studies and four of the five (80%) neurocognitive training intervention studies observed significant improvements in mental health and well-being outcomes.

Conclusions

Cognitive rehabilitation and neurocognitive training may be the most effective interventions for mental health and well-being impairments post-concussion. Researchers and clinicians should continue to explore the effectiveness of these interventions, specifically in populations most impacted by concussion (i.e. athletes).

KEYWORDS:

• Mild-traumatic brain injury
• post-concussion intervention
• mental health and well-being outcomes
• cognitive rehabilitation
• neurocognitive training

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.