A-42 Emotional Health and Recovery in Adolescent and Young Adult Athletes Who Experienced a Sports-Related Concussion

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: This quantitative study explored the relation between mood and recovery time in. athletes with sports-related concussion. Methods: Deidentified data were extracted from an existing database of an outpatient concussion clinic. Subjects (n = 89; 39.3% female; mean age = 15.57) were included if they were ages 13 to 25, sustained concussion while participating in sport, were assessed within 10 days of injury, and had no evidence of structural brain injury. Total scores from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were predictor variables. Recovery time was defined as time from injury to return-to-play. Results: Mean recovery time was consistent with prior research (24.41 days, SD = 16.36). Anxiety and depression total scores considered together predicted recovery time (multiple linear regression; F(2,86) = 8.84, p < 0.001). Anxiety did not predict recovery time when controlling for depression. Depression (mean total = 3.78, SD = 3.41) predicted recovery time when controlling for anxiety, (standardized ß = 0.44, t = 3.34, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The GAD-7 and PHQ-9 are easy-to-use mood screening instruments that do not require a considerable amount of time to administer. Higher scores on the PHQ-9 and the combination of both instruments when administered within 10 days of injury were related to longer recovery times in athletes. For every 3.41 points that the total PHQ-9 score increased, recovery time increased by approximately 7 days. This underscores the importance of examining mood state as part of a comprehensive assessment after sport-related concussion.