Prevalence and risk factors for depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in youth with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS)

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for emotional distress in youth with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) greater than one month.

Methods: We used baseline data from an intervention study for youth with PPCS, utilizing Poisson regression to examine factors associated with exceeding clinical cut-points on measures of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation. Predictors included: age, sex, socioeconomic status, mental health history, duration of concussion symptoms, history of prior concussion, trauma history and sleep quality.

Results: The sample included 200 youth with PPCS, (mean 14.7 SD 1.7 years, 82% white, 62% female). Forty percent reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, 25% anxiety, 14% thoughts of self-harm and 8% thoughts of suicide. History of depression was associated with 3-fold higher risk for thoughts of self-harm (95% CI:1.82–6.99) and 6-fold higher risk for suicidal ideation (95% CI:1.74–24.46). Better sleep quality was associated with lower risk for all outcomes. History of prior concussion and duration of PPCS were not significantly associated with any outcomes.

Conclusions: Suicidal thoughts are common post-concussion, and history of depression is a strong risk factor. Tailored interventions may be needed to address mental health in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Concussion
• depression
• anxiety
• suicide
• mental health
• sleep
• adolescence

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our research staff, Lauren Fay, Lauren Stanek, for assisting with collection of baseline data. We also thank Teah Hoopes, who oversaw all data collection and IRB protocols. Finally, this work would not have been possible without the time and dedication of the adolescents and families who participated and we thank them for their commitment to this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was made possible by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, R01HD090230.