A - 38 Examining Persisting State Anxiety and Concussion Clinical Outcomes across Concussion Recovery

Abstract

Document changes in state anxiety over the course of recovery from concussion and examine the effect of persisting state anxiety on concussion clinical outcomes. Patients (ages 15–51 yrs) seeking care for a sport or non-sport-related concussion within 1–7 days post-injury were included in this study. Participants completed a self-report measure of state anxiety (STAI) at each clinical visit. Differences in STAI scores from visit 1 and visit 2 were calculated and used to categorize patients into a PERSIST (scores stayed the same or got worse) and an IMPROVE group (scores improved). Changes in STAI scores across two clinical visits were examined with a paired samples t-test, and a series of independent samples t-tests and chi-square analyses were used to examine between-group differences in clinical outcomes (symptom score, neurocognitive scores, vestibular/ocular motor symptoms and impairment, and recovery time). 187 participants (M = 22.37, SD = 10.67 yrs, 65% female) completed study measures at 4.25 (SD = 1.68) (visit 1) and 13.20 (SD = 28.65) (visit 2) post-injury. STAI scores significantly differed between first (M = 20.99, SD = 6.05) and second visit (M = 17.41, SD = 6.21, p < 0.001). The PERSIST group (n = 41, M = 25.90, SD = 20.03) had significantly higher total symptom scores at visit 2 compared to those in the IMPROVE group (n = 122, M = 16.23, SD = 16.17, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in other clinical outcomes between those with and without persisting state anxiety. State anxiety changes throughout concussion recovery and individuals with persisting state anxiety exhibit higher symptom scores at visit 2. Assessment, reassurance and recognition of anxiety is important for overall symptom recovery.