TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Network analysis applied to post-concussion symptoms in two mild traumatic brain injury samples
JO  - Frontiers in neurology
A1  - Faulkner, Josh W.
A1  - Theadom, Alice
A1  - Snell, Deborah L.
A1  - Williams, Matt N.
SP  - e1226367
EP  - e1226367
VL  - 14
IS  - 
N2  - OBJECTIVE: A latent disease explanation cannot exclusively explain post-concussion symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Network analysis offers an alternative form of explanation for relationships between symptoms. The study aimed to apply network analysis to post-concussion symptoms in two different mTBI cohorts; an acute treatment-seeking sample and a sample 10 years post-mTBI. <br><br>METHOD: The treatment-seeking sample (n = 258) were on average 6 weeks post-injury; the 10 year post mTBI sample (n = 193) was derived from a population-based incidence and outcomes study (BIONIC). Network analysis was completed on post-concussion symptoms measured using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire. <br><br>RESULTS: In the treatment-seeking sample, frustration, blurred vision, and concentration difficulties were central to the network. These symptoms remained central in the 10 year post mTBI sample. A Network Comparison Test revealed evidence of a difference in network structure across the two samples (p = 0.045). However, the only symptoms that showed significant differences in strength centrality across samples were irritability and restlessness. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that frustration, blurred vision and concentration difficulties may have an influential role in the experience and maintenance of post-concussion symptoms. The impact of these symptoms may remain stable over time. Targeting and prioritising the management of these symptoms may be beneficial for mTBI rehabilitation.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1664-2295
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1226367
ID  - ref1
ER  -