After a Concussion, Which Teens Will Have Emotional Symptoms?

After a concussion, teens who are sensitive to light or noise may also be more likely to have emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, according to a recent study. “While most people recover from a concussion within a week, a number of factors affect people’s recovery, and studies have shown that teenage athletes may take up to seven to 10 days longer to recover than older athletes,” said study authors Lisa M. Koehl, MS, and Dong (Dan) Y. Han, PsyD, of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. The study involved 37 athletes, aged 12 to 17, who had persisting symptoms for an average of 37 days following a concussion. Participants were excluded if they had a previous history of psychological issues. One group of 22 teens had emotional symptoms, such as irritability, aggression, anxiety, depression, apathy, frequent mood changes or excessive emotional reactions, after the concussion, while the second group of 15 teens did not have emotional symptoms. The study found that of the 22 teens who had emotional symptoms, five teens (23 percent) were sensitive to light, while three teens (14 percent) were sensitive to noise. In comparison, of the 15 teens without emotional symptoms, only two teens (13 percent) were sensitive to light and no teens were sensitive to noise. The authors noted that the findings are preliminary with small samples and stressed the importance of replicating this study with a larger sample size. To learn more about the study, click here.