Concussions and Depression

Every year, approximately 4 million teenage athletes suffer a concussion. A history of concussions is associated with a more than threefold increase in the risk of depression for adolescents, and youth with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a greater chance of developing prolonged depression and anxiety after a concussion than those without ADHD. Similarly, teens who already have a history of depression or anxiety may find that their symptoms worsen after a concussion.

A concussion is an injury that changes the way the brain normally works. Symptoms of a concussion may not be noticed or even appear until days or weeks after it occurs. Most concussions do not cause a loss of consciousness. In fact, teenagers and young children are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover from one than adults do, and individuals who have already had a concussion face an increased risk of experiencing additional ones in the future.

Signs of a concussion include feeling “pressure” inside one’s head, nausea or vomiting, a sensitivity to light and noise, concentration or memory problems, moving clumsily and answering questions slowly. Having one pupil larger than the other, being drowsy or unable to be awakened, and experiencing increased confusion, restlessness or agitation following a concussion can indicate serious complications and require immediate medical attention.

While an individual’s brain is healing, he or she is much more susceptible to additional concussions. A serious concussion can last for months and subsequent brain injuries can increase recovery time. Rest is key. The more an adolescent overexerts himself or herself mentally and physically after a concussion, the greater the chance his or her symptoms will worsen and recuperation will be extended.

While concussed persons are more likely to suffer physical and cognitive changes than emotional ones, concussions do share many of the symptoms of depression, including feeling tired, having difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly, irritability, nervousness, and sleeping more or less than usual. If a teenager does develop depression following a concussion, his or her symptoms should resolve once he or she heals completely. However, they may persist for some youth. Finally, individuals already diagnosed with depression and/or ADHD may need more careful monitoring as they recover from a concussion.