Current research on concussions indicates that both younger age and female gender are associated with a greater number of symptoms and a... Show moreCurrent research on concussions indicates that both younger age and female gender are associated with a greater number of symptoms and a lengthier postconcussive recovery time. The aim of this research was to examine postconcussive symptoms (PCS) resulting from a sports-related concussion in both male and female children/adolescents. Data was collected using neuropsychology measures (Auditory Consonant Trigrams Test, Conners' Continuous Performance Test-2nd edition, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement- Third Edition, and Behavior Assessment System for Children-2nd edition) and a neurological evaluation. Participants included 132 children/adolescents (10-18 years) who had sustained a sports-related concussion. Results indicated evidence of subtle, but clinically significant, impairments in executive functioning. This was particularly true for those with a premorbid attention, learning, and/or mood disorder. In addition, a history of previous concussions was associated with a higher number of reported cognitive PCS. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each of the dependent measures. As predicted, female gender was associated with increased executive dysfunction and a higher report of cognitive and emotional/behavioral PCS. Contrary to hypotheses, younger age was associated with less executive dysfunction and fewer reported cognitive PCS. No interaction between age and gender was identified. Implications of the findings are discussed. Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2016 Show less
The Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) is a widely used measure of postconcussive symptoms in veteran populations. Previous psychometric... Show moreThe Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) is a widely used measure of postconcussive symptoms in veteran populations. Previous psychometric studies used samples of veterans with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and high rates of comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The present study aims to determine the best-fitting factor structure of the NSI in veterans with PTSD and to evaluate the relationship between the best-fitting factor structure and the symptom clusters of PTSD. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) found that 4-factors had the best overall fit in veterans with PTSD. Correlational analyses found high rates of correspondence between the cognitive and affective factors of the NSI and the alterations in cognition and mood and hyperarousal symptom clusters of PTSD. The analyses reveal that symptoms of the NSI cluster in the same way in a sample of veterans with PTSD as they do in veterans with mTBI, suggesting that lingering postconcussive symptoms in veterans with PTSD are better characterized as non-specific generalized health symptoms on the NSI. Show less