# Anxiety and Mood Disruption in Collegiate Athletes Acutely Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

## TL;DR

This study finds that anxiety and mood issues are common in college athletes after mild traumatic brain injuries, with certain risk factors like family history of migraines and female sex playing a role.

## Contribution

The study identifies acute mood and anxiety symptom burden and associated risk factors in collegiate athletes following mTBI.

## Key findings

- Mood and anxiety symptom scores were significantly higher immediately after mTBI compared to baseline.
- A family history of migraine was linked to higher mood and anxiety scores post-injury.
- Mood/anxiety symptoms were strongly correlated with other symptoms in athletes, including those with prolonged symptoms.

## Abstract

Objective: To report the symptom burden of anxiety and mood-related indicators following mTBI in collegiate student-athletes. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of varsity collegiate athletes. Setting: University sports medicine at a tertiary care center. Patients: Division I college varsity athletes diagnosed with mTBI at a single institution between 2016 and 2019. Independent Variables: Pre- and post-injury. Main Outcome Measures: Comparisons between baseline testing and post-mTBI symptom scale assessments were made to determine changes in scores at the individual and group levels. The primary outcome was the prevalence of post-mTBI symptoms from within 72 h of injury through return to play. Associations with sport, sex, age, and return-to-play time were included. Results: Compared to baseline, mood and anxiety symptom scores were significantly higher acutely following mTBI (2.1 ± 3.3 vs. 14.3 ± 12.2; p < 0.001). A family history of migraine was significantly associated with higher mood and anxiety symptom scores (20.0 ± 14.9 with history vs. 13.3 ± 11.3 without history; p = 0.042). Mood and anxiety symptom scores were highly correlated with non-mood and anxiety symptom scores for all athletes, including the subgroup with prolonged symptoms (r = 0.769; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Symptoms of anxiety or mood disruption are common during the acute period post-injury in varsity college athletes. Risk factors for higher symptom reports immediately following mTBI and for prolonged symptoms (>10 days) included female sex, those with a family history of migraine, and those with an overall higher symptom burden post-injury.