@article{ref1,
title="Anxiety sensitivity and alexithymia as mediators of postconcussion syndrome following mild traumatic brain injury",
journal="Journal of head trauma rehabilitation",
year="2014",
author="Wood, Rodger Ll and O'Hagan, Geraldine and Williams, Claire and McCabe, Michael and Chadwick, Nicole",
volume="29",
number="1",
pages="E9-E17",
abstract="OBJECTIVE:: To examine the influence of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and alexithymia as potential mediators for the development of psychological distress and postconcussion syndrome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). PARTICIPANTS:: Sixty-one patients with mTBI assessed at a mean of 2.38 weeks after injury and demographically matched healthy controls (n = 61). MEASURES:: Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire. RESULTS:: The mTBI group reported significantly higher levels of AS, alexithymia, psychological distress, and postconcussion (PC) symptom scores than controls. High AS and alexithymia in the mTBI group were associated with a greater number of PC symptoms and higher levels of psychological distress than patients scoring low on these measures and controls. In the mTBI group, a combination of AS and low mood explained 52.6% of the variance in PC symptom reporting. A combination of trait-anxiety, alexithymia, and PC symptoms explained 77.2% of the variance in levels of mood. CONCLUSION:: A combination of low mood and high AS may act as a psychological diathesis for the development of persisting PC symptoms. Early identification could provide a focus for early intervention to prevent the development of postconcussion syndrome after mTBI.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0885-9701",
doi="10.1097/HTR.0b013e31827eabba",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0b013e31827eabba"
}