Pediatric medicine update: concussion and postconcussion syndrome

The incidence of sport-related concussion in children and adolescents has increased in recent years, with one recent study reporting that 12% of athletes in grades 8 through 12 sustained a concussion during the course of the school year. Postconcussive syndrome consists of somatic and cognitive symptoms, along with several symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, including sadness, nervousness, irritability, and sleep-related difficulties. Several studies have found that a history of depression and/or anxiety is associated with higher symptom burden at baseline, as well as increased severity and duration of symptoms postinjury.