Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

Post-Concussion Syndrome – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Debate

As far as traumatic brain injuries go, one of the most common types is known as a concussion. Concussions are usually caused by an impact to the head, or in other cases simply by sudden accelerating or decelerating forces. Although concussions are considered to be a very mild form of traumatic brain injury, noticeable symptoms may still develop as a result. The set of symptoms which may appear in the three or four weeks following a concussion are collectively known as post-concussion syndrome (PCS).

Post-concussion syndrome, otherwise called post-concussive syndrome, is best described as a collection of symptoms associated with mild brain trauma which may disappear after a few weeks or linger for years. These symptoms may affect the victim’s physical, emotional, and/or cognitive faculties.

The most common physical symptoms of PCS are dizziness and persistent headache, which may last from weeks to months. Patients may also experience loss in balance, nausea, blurred vision, noise and light sensitivity, or loss of hearing, among other symptoms.

As time passes, the symptoms of PCS begin to shift away from physical ones and into the psychological and emotional realm, resulting in irritability, depression, anxiety, and unpredictable mood swings. PCS can also affect a patient’s cognitive or mental capabilities, causing amnesia, impaired judgment, confusion, and/or a decrease in social interaction skills. Generally, symptoms relating to memory and attention span are the longest lasting.

Post-concussion syndrome is not a universally accepted idea. Some experts argue that grouping such a large set of symptoms under one name is misleading and inaccurate. Even those who support PCS as a valid diagnosis often do not agree on the exact definition of post-concussion syndrome. Others are concerned that symptoms of PCS are too similar – and thus, too easily confused with – common symptoms of other psychological or physical problems.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnoses PCS in this way: a patient must have sustained head trauma through a concussion resulting in memory and/or attention problems, plus three of the following:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Problem sleeping
• Irritability
• Change in personality
• Apathy

The Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire is one approach to measuring the severity and extent of a patient’s PCS symptoms. Symptoms are considered “valid” if they persist for at least three months following the injury and were not present or existed in a less severe form prior to the injury.

Although the definition of post-concussion syndrome is not universally agreed-upon, there is little doubt that even a mild traumatic brain injury like a concussion can have negative physical, psychological, and mental effects. If you have sustained a traumatic brain injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your pain and suffering. To learn more, call 866-950-9000 and set up a free initial consultation with a traumatic brain injury lawyer from Williams Kherkher today.