A meta-analytic review of the emotional symptoms associated with mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Given the prevalence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and enduring subjective complaints known as postconcussion symptoms (PCS), it is important to investigate the nature and extent of these difficulties. This study used meta-analytic techniques to integrate the available information on the emotional symptoms associated with mTBI. Small effect sizes were found across all domains (depression, anxiety, coping, and psychosocial disability); however, significance depended upon the weighting method employed. The results indicate that mTBI had a small to negligible effect on emotional symptom reporting. This has implications for the etiology of PCS, the delivery of therapeutic interventions, and medico-legal disputations.

Keywords:

• Postconcussion syndrome
• Mild traumatic brain injury
• Meta-analysis
• Depression
• Anxiety

The authors wish to certify that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere.