Somatic Symptom Disorder After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
15%-27% of patients develop somatic symptom disorder after mild traumatic brain injury.
Somatic Symptom Disorder After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may be a common precipitant of Somatic Symptom Disorder (Somatic Symptom Disorder).
This study examined the prevalence, correlates, predictors, and functional impact of Somatic Symptom Disorder after mTBI.
Secondary analysis of a clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04704037).
roughly 1 in 5 mTBI patients go on to develop somatic symptom disorder
Participants with Somatic Symptom Disorder reported more pain and post-concussion symptoms, and were more likely to have comorbid Major Depressive Disorder (OR = 9.1, 95% CI = 5.3, 16.2) and at least 1 anxiety disorder (OR = 5.6, 95% CI = 3.6-8.8) compared to those without Somatic Symptom Disorder.
Early illness beliefs, specifically that mTBI has serious life consequences (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.3) and causes distress (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.0-1.2), were associated with later Somatic Symptom Disorder.
Somatic Symptom Disorder after mTBI is associated with an increased burden of symptoms, comorbidity, and disability. Early identification of at-risk patients appears feasible.
Somatic Symptom Disorder may be a useful framework for conceptualizing poor outcome from mTBI in patients with prominent psychological distress and guiding rehabilitation.