@article{ref1,
title="Specificity of post-concussion symptoms at 3 months after mild traumatic brain injury. Results from a prospective study",
journal="Injury prevention",
year="2012",
author="Lagarde, E. and Masson, F. and Ribereau-Gayon, R. and Zongo, D. and Salmi, Louis-Rachid and Laborey, M.",
volume="18",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="A78-A78",
abstract="Background Common complaints after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) include headaches, anxiety, irritability, and sleep disturbances, but these symptoms also occur in the non head-injured population. Whether they are more frequent among MTBI patients should help identify those that could be considered as part of the post concussion syndrome (PCS).  Aims/Objectives/Purpose We assessed the specificity of symptoms proposed in the three main scales used to measure PCS: post concussion symptoms listed in the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).  Methods A cohort of 536 patients with MTBI and a comparison group of 946 patients with non-head injuries were recruited in the Adult Emergency Department (ED) of a teaching hospital in Bordeaux, France. Specificity of symptoms was assessed comparing MTBI and comparison patients at 3 months taking in to account baseline levels before ED admission.  Results/Outcomes 8 symptoms were identified as being specific to MTBI: headaches, dizziness, intolerance of stress, forgetfulness, poor concentration, taking longer to think, blurred vision, and personality change. Eight symptoms were found to be not specific to MTBI: nausea, noise sensitivity, irritability, anxiety, feeling frustrated, double vision, light sensitivity and restlessness.  Significance/Contribution to the Field The relevance of symptoms proposed to constitute PCS should be reviewed. A more specific definition of PCS would make diagnosis easier and facilitate prevention as well as treatment of patients with MTBI.   This is an abstract of a presentation at Safety 2012, the 11th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 1-4 October 2012, Michael Fowler Center, Wellington, New Zealand. Full text does not seem to be available for this abstract. <p />",
language="en",
issn="1353-8047",
doi="10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040580g.21",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040580g.21"
}