Mild traumatic brain injury and the postconcussive syndrome

As many as 80% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury initially suffer from symptoms that are attributed to the postconcussion syndrome. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, difficulty with memory or concentration, depression, and peripheral vestibular system dysfunction. Well-motivated, young, male patients are at lowest risk for the postconcussion syndrome. By I year after injury, 85% of patients have a full recovery; patients with symptoms persisting for longer than 1 year are classified as suffering from the persistent postconcussive syndrome. Predictors of the persistent postconcussive syndrome include female gender, low socioeconomic status, other severe illness, alcohol abuse, and prior mild traumatic brain injury. Despite common beliefs, patients with ongoing Litigation do not necessarily have a higher prevalence of postconcussion syndrome or persistent postconcussive syndrome than do other such patients.