Neuropsychiatric correlates of persistent postconcussive syndrome

Thirty-six cases of head injury with persistent neurologic symptoms presenting to an outpatient head injury clinic were investigated. Cases with mild injury had significantly higher prevalences of chronic pain and depression than more severely Injured cases. The “mild” group had fewer cases with good outcome than the “severe” group. This study and much of the existing literature supports the conclusion that patients with persistent postconcussive syndrome are likely to suffer from the interaction of chronic headache and depression, rather than a specific neurologic cognitive disability.