Treatment of Post-Concussion Syndrome Following Mild Head Injury

Approximately 38% of patients who sustain head trauma characterized by a brief disturbance of consciousness and clinically unremarkable neuroradiologic findings meet International Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria for postconcussion syndrome (PCS). Physicians treat a majority of cases with nonsteroidal analgesics or antidepressants, and refer about 40% for psychological consultation. Psychological treatment typically involves education, reassurance, and reattribution of symptoms to benign causes. A review of controlled treatment outcome studies conducted over the past 2 decades in Scandinavia, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States suggests that early single session treatment can prevent the syndrome as effectively as traditional outpatient therapy. Several standardized, empirically supported treatment manuals are available.