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Abstract Purpose This person-centered study examined pre-injury psychological and neurodevelopmental risk factors in youth experiencing persistent concussion symptoms (PCS). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to empirically define groups of children and adolescents experiencing PCS, and compare their functional outcomes. Method 126 pediatric patients (Mean age = 15.94 years; 65.1% female) experiencing PCS (Mean time since injury = 315 days) participated in a clinical neuropsychological consultation and evaluation within the Minds Matter Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. LCA models were run using pre-injury variables (mood and anxiety concerns, attention and learning challenges). Functional outcomes (neuropsychological performance, academic decline, symptom magnification) were then compared across the resulting classes. Results Statistical indicators Akaike Information Criteria (804.59), adjusted Bayesian Information Criteria (801.01), Bootstrap Likelihood Ratio Test (p 0.001) indicated that a two-class model provided the best fit. Class 1 (n = 58) was predominately females (78.3%) with comorbid pre-injury developmental (46.6% learning challenges, 54.6% attention concerns) and psychological concerns (75.6% anxiety, 48.9% mood concerns). Class 2 (n = 68) was half females (49.8%) with fewer comorbid pre-injury developmental (14.6% learning challenges, 22.5% attention concerns) and psychological concerns (39.3% anxiety, 0% mood concerns). The two classes did not significantly differ on functional outcomes. Standardized testing scores were within the average range across the sample. Conclusions Pre-injury risk factors contribute to persistent symptom experience and functional complaints in the absence of objective cognitive impairment. Given the incidence across groups, these findings highlight the importance of understanding psychological and neurodevelopmental factors, as well as sex-based differences when directing referrals and treatment of PCS within a multidisciplinary program.
June et al. (Sat,) studied this question.