Characteristics of Responders and Non-Responders in a Military Post-Concussion Rehabilitation Program

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To characterize treatment responders and non-responders as measured by the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). <h3>Design</h3> Observational retrospective analysis of extant clinical outcomes data. <h3>Setting</h3> Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. <h3>Participants</h3> Active duty military patients with a diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who received treatment between the years 2007 - 2020 and completed self-report measures as part of routine care. The final dataset included patients who completed NSI and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) at both intake and discharge (n=717). The majority of patients were male (82.01%). Mean age was 34.41 years (SD=9.63). The most prevalent military rank was Senior Enlisted (53.56%). <h3>Interventions</h3> None. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> NSI, WHOQOL-BREF, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Military Version (PCL-M). <h3>Results</h3> Responders reported significantly more distress on the NSI at intake (M=41.81, SD=14.84) than non-responders, (M=33.75, SD=16.08), t(715)=6.92, p < .001, and this was found for all NSI subscales. Females (n=129) responded proportionally more (70.54%) than males (n=588, 55.61%) in comparison to their total gender group. Responders reported a greater functional impact from pain at intake, t(665.733)=-2.16, p < .05) as well as greater satisfaction with social support, t(715)=2.16, p < .05). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Self-reported symptom burden, pain, and social support at intake as well as gender impact response to rehabilitation interventions in this setting. Different programming may be more effective for targeting some populations. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> None.