Risk and Protective Factors Influencing Outcomes and Recovery in Sports-Related Concussion
Open Access
- Author:
- Guty, Erin Theresa
- Graduate Program:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- May 20, 2021
- Committee Members:
- Michele Diaz, Major Field Member
Frank Hillary, Major Field Member
Semyon Slobounov, Outside Unit & Field Member
Peter Arnett, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Kristin Buss (she/her), Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- neuropsychology
sports-related concussion
assessment
cognition
cognitive reserve - Abstract:
- Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a subtype of mild traumatic brain injury which occurs during participation in athletic activity. Like other types of mild traumatic brain injury, the symptoms and outcomes from SRC are very heterogeneous. Experiencing an SRC can have acute and more chronic implications for athletes and can affect various aspects of functioning (e.g., emotional, cognitive, academic, and social). These sequelae highlight the importance of a more comprehensive understanding of SRC through both improving how we assess SRC and factors that may contribute to risk for or resiliency against certain negative outcomes following injury. The overarching goal of this three-paper dissertation was to explore each of these facets. First, this dissertation explored the potential for improving SRC assessment by testing whether premorbid IQ should be considered when examining an athlete’s post-concussion testing. The results indicated that premorbid IQ significantly affected the cognitive assessment of SRC and should be incorporated in a clinical decision-making algorithm. Second, this dissertation explored whether cognitive reserve had a significant moderating effect on different post-concussion outcomes. The results indicated that cognitive reserve did not provide a protective effect post-concussion against poorer cognitive functioning, depression symptoms, or time to return to play. Third, this dissertation explored in a population of athletes with persistent post-concussion symptoms whether specific types of symptoms put individuals at risk of poorer cognitive functioning. The results indicated that headache, over and above other post-concussion symptoms, was the significant symptom that predicted cognitive dysfunction. The results of these three studies will provide information that can be used to improve both the assessment and treatment of sport-related concussion.