1 in 3 Adolescents With Concussion Develop Depression as Well

September 27, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing have completed research that concluded nearly 1 in 3 adolescents report elevated symptoms of depression in the month following a concussion.

As a health concern, we have gained an understanding of how damaging concussions are to future health, and that the long-term impacts are much more serious in those who are young. This study is one of the first that examined in-depth mental health and adolescents post-concussion or mild TBI

Children often suffer concussions from falls, sports, assaults and car crashes. The more we understand about concussions and children’s health the better we can treat them. 

If your child has suffered a concussion as the result of someone else's negligence contact one of our personal injury lawyers for your free consultation. We can help you be prepared for what the future holds.

Here is a copy of the press release:

Researchers from CHOP and Penn Nursing conducted a prospective study to assess mental health symptoms within the first 28 days after the injury and compare their results with non-concussed adolescents. By doing this, the study could focus on whether early screening can detect symptoms of depression or anxiety early on so that symptoms can be identified and treated earlier, preventing long-term consequences.

"Our study found that a meaningful number of kids report depressive symptoms when we screened for them within the first month of a concussion injury," said senior study author Catherine McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN, a Senior Fellow with CHOP's Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) and an Associate Professor of Nursing in the Department of Family and Community Health at Penn Nursing. "It is important that frontline providers regularly screen for depression as a component of concussion care."

The researchers recruited 111 concussed and 171 non-concussed adolescents ages 13 to 18 years old. Participants completed assessments for depression and anxiety from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). The concussed cohort included patients who presented with a concussion diagnosis within 28 days of injury to CHOP Minds Matter Concussion Program clinic. Non-concussed participants were volunteers from a private suburban high school.

In initial analyses, the proportion of concussed adolescents above normal limits for depressive symptoms was greater than in the non-concussed groups. In addition, more than 30% of the concussed adolescents were above normal limits for depressive or anxiety symptoms.

"Most patients are remarkably resilient and cope very well after a concussion, but this study demonstrated that about a third of patients will experience mental health needs after their injury, which is why it's so important for them to have access to comprehensive care, including behavioral health support, as soon as a need is identified," said study co-author Jamie Shoop, PhD, a psychologist in the Minds Matter Concussion Program. "By getting the support they need as early as possible, they can avoid some of these symptoms before they become more problematic."

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Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.