Mild head injury and post concussion syndrome: does anyone really suffer?

Abstract

There is some controversy in the scientific literature regarding the rate and extent of recovery from mild closed head injury. Most clinicians agree that there is a potential constellation of symptoms which has been labeled the post concussive syndrome, and that this disorder does affect, at least temporarily, a subset of this mild head trauma population. The rate and extent of recovery from mild head injury is dependent upon a number of complicating factors such as extent of injury, age, education, vocational skills, cognitive abilities, psychosocial functioning, and general physical health. This article attempts to answer the question, does anyone really suffer after experiencing a mild head injury and, if so, what are the problems, how do we identify these individuals, and what intervention may we offer?