Concussion-Like Symptom Reporting in Non-Concussed Collegiate Athletes.
OBJECTIVE
Non-concussed individuals may report a variety of concussion-like symptoms even in the absence of a diagnosed brain injury. Previous studies described concussion-like symptom reporting in adolescent athletes. This study provides complementary data on concussion-like symptoms in collegiate athletes.


METHODS
We analyzed baseline symptom scales from 738 collegiate athletes (452 men and 286 women) who completed either the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, 3 Symptom Evaluation (S3SE; n = 377) or the Post-Concussion Scale (PCS; n = 361) and determined if subjects met criteria for diagnosis of International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) postconcussional syndrome. Symptoms were grouped as somatic, cognitive, emotional, or sleep-related. We analyzed associations with medical history factors using chi-square analyses, and examined recovery time of a subset of concussed athletes based on baseline symptomatology (n = 117) with independent samples t-test.


RESULTS
Across all athletes, 120 (16.3%) reported baseline symptoms meeting criteria for ICD-10 postconcussional syndrome. Women were 1.7 times more likely to meet these criteria (21.7% vs. 12.8%, p = .002). Athletes completing the S3SE were 1.5 times more likely to meet criteria than those completing the PCS (p = .011). Previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder was significantly associated with emotional domain symptom reporting, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder diagnosis was associated with cognitive domain symptom reporting. On average, athletes meeting ICD-10 postconcussional syndrome criteria at baseline experienced longer recovery from concussion (t[115] = 2.35, p = .020).


CONCLUSIONS
Non-concussed collegiate athletes report concussion-like symptoms at a clinically significant rate. Pre-injury medical history and reporting rates of concussion-like symptoms may explain variance in post-concussion symptom expression. Measured incidence of baseline postconcussional syndrome may, in part, depend on the symptom report measure that is used.
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165 Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Breton M
BM
Asken
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165 Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Aliyah R
AR
Snyder
Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, FL, USA.
James R
JR
Clugston
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165 Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Leslie S
LS
Gaynor
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165 Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Molly J
MJ
Sullan
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 100165 Health Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Russell M
RM
Bauer
D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Athlete; Brain injury; College; Post-Concussion Scale; Post-concussion syndrome; SCAT3