Early intervention for patients at risk for persisting disability after mild traumatic brain injury: A randomized, controlled study

Abstract

Study objective: To investigate the effect of an early intervention visit in addition to written information and treatment as usual for patients with an estimated high risk for persisting disability after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).Research design: Randomized controlled trial.Methods: One hundred and seventy-three patients, aged 15–70 years with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 14–15 were included. All received written information about MTBI. Ninety-seven patients who reported three or more symptoms according to the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) at 10 days after the injury were considered as high-risk patients and were randomized to either early visit to a doctor or to treatment as usual (TAU); all patients including the 76 low-risk patients were followed-up at 3 months. Completion rate was 83%. Outcome measures included RPQ and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: RPQ symptoms decreased significantly in both randomized groups, but were not significantly different in the groups at 3 months. At 3 months, anxiety and depression scores did not differ between groups.Conclusions: An early intervention, offered to patients with an estimated high risk for persisting disability, had no additional effect on symptom level at 3 months after MTBI as compared to TAU.