Coping resources and the development of persistent postconcussional syndrome after a mild traumatic brain injury

This prospective study was designed to examine the effect of total coping resources, as measured by the Coping Resources Inventory, on the development of persistent postconcussional syndrome. Other variables – loss of consciousness, subjective life stress, litigation after the injury, prior head injury, and the receipt of information about what post-injury symptoms are common – were examined as well. Thirty-eight participants, ranging in age from 18 to 55, completed the Postconcussion Syndrome Checklist and the Coping Resources Inventory (for pre-trauma coping) within three weeks of being diagnosed with a concussion. They were contacted for a follow-up three months post-trauma and completed the Postconcussion Syndrome Checklist again along with a questionnaire listing the other study variables. It was expected that participants with more total coping resources would report fewer symptoms at the follow-up than those with fewer coping resources. No relationship was found between the total Coping Resources Inventory score and symptoms reported three months post-trauma. The other variables were examined, using multiple regression, to determine their significance as predictors for the amount of symptoms reported at follow-up. The only variable that was a significant predictor for symptoms at follow-up was the participant’s rating of subjective life stress. Limitations of the study are discussed and future areas of research are outlined.