AUTHOR=Faulkner Josh W. , Theadom Alice , Snell Deborah L. , Williams Matt N. 

TITLE=Network analysis applied to post-concussion symptoms in two mild traumatic brain injury samples

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1226367

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1226367

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>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.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Method</title><p>The treatment-seeking sample (<italic>n</italic> = 258) were on average 6 weeks post-injury; the 10 year post mTBI sample (<italic>n</italic> = 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.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>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 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.045). However, the only symptoms that showed significant differences in strength centrality across samples were irritability and restlessness.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>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></sec>