The significance of mild traumatic brain injury to cognition and self-reported symptoms in long-term recovery from injury

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate neurocognition and self-reported symptoms in long-term recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI). Participants' time since injury ranged from 3 to 72 (M = 36.75) months. Relative to orthopedic injury controls (n = 63), mild TBI participants (n = 63) did not demonstrate cognitive impairment in any domains examined, or differences in self-report of postconcussive or psychiatric symptoms. However, postconcussive and psychiatric symptoms were strongly related (r = .50, p < .05). Results provide additional evidence that neurological injury in single-incident mild TBI is of little clinical significance to long-term cognitive and symptom outcome.

Keywords:

• Mild traumatic brain injury
• Mild head injury
• Neurocognition
• Postconcussive symptoms
• Postconcussion syndrome