@article{ref1,
title="Does the fear avoidance model explain persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury?",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2017",
author="Wijenberg, Melloney L. M. and Stapert, Sven Z. and Verbunt, Jeanine A. and Ponsford, Jennie L. and van Heugten, Caroline M.",
volume="31",
number="12",
pages="1597-1604",
abstract="BACKGROUND: A minority of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) experience a persistent symptom complex also known as post-concussion syndrome. Explanations for this syndrome are still lacking. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the fear avoidance model, including catastrophizing thoughts and fear avoidance behaviour, poses a possible biopsychosocial explanation for lingering symptoms and delay in recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) with special focus on mTBI. <br><br>DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 48 patients with TBI, of which 31 patients with mTBI, had persistent symptoms (mean time since injury 48.2 months); 92% of the entire sample fulfilled the criteria for post-concussion syndrome. OUTCOME VARIABLES: catastrophizing, fear-avoidance, depression and post-concussion symptoms. <br><br>RESULTS: High levels of catastrophizing were found in 10% and high levels of fear avoidance behaviour were found in 35%. Catastrophizing, fear avoidance behaviour, depressive symptoms and post-concussion symptoms correlated significantly with each other (p < 0.05). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The fear-avoidance model proposes a possible explanation for persistent symptoms. Validation and normative data are needed for suitable measures of catastrophizing and fear avoidance of post-concussion symptoms after TBI. Longitudinal prospective cohort studies are needed to establish its causal and explanatory nature.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.1080/02699052.2017.1366551",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2017.1366551"
}