title: Anxiety sensitivity and alexithymia as mediators of postconcussion syndrome following mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and alexithymia as potential mediators for the development of psychological distress and postconcussion syndrome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with mTBI assessed at a mean of 2.38 weeks after injury and demographically matched healthy controls (n = 61).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mTBI group reported significantly higher levels of AS, alexithymia, psychological distress, and postconcussion (PC) symptom scores than controls. High AS and alexithymia in the mTBI group were associated with a greater number of PC symptoms and higher levels of psychological distress than patients scoring low on these measures and controls. In the mTBI group, a combination of AS and low mood explained 52.6% of the variance in PC symptom reporting. A combination of trait-anxiety, alexithymia, and PC symptoms explained 77.2% of the variance in levels of mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of low mood and high AS may act as a psychological diathesis for the development of persisting PC symptoms. Early identification could provide a focus for early intervention to prevent the development of postconcussion syndrome after mTBI.
authors: Brain Injury Research Group, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University (Drs Wood and Williams and Mss O'Hagan and Chadwick); and Accident & Emergency Department, Morriston Hospital (Dr Wood and Mr McCabe), Swansea, Wales.
authors: Rodger Ll
authors: RL
authors: Wood
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: O'Hagan
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Williams
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: McCabe
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Chadwick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales; D055815:Young Adult