Abstract Details

Title Depressive Symptom Endorsement in Retired NFL Players and the Role of Concussion

Topic Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) P05 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 108

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: According to the CDC approximately 1.6 to 3.8 million sports concussions occur each year. While it is known that sports concussions can result from cognitive and/or mood disturbances, few have investigated the enduring effects that may emerge later in life, especially those related to depressive symptoms.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: Thirty-four retired NFL athletes with a history of concussion and twenty-nine age- and IQ- matched controls without a history of concussion were recruited. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, and a full neuropsychological battery. The BDI-II was subdivided into a 3-factor model as proposed by Buckley (2001) in order to provide a more detailed analysis of reported symptoms. Concussion history was obtained retrospectively from athletes and informants, and classified using the AAN Practice Parameter guidelines for grading concussion (1997).

Results RESULTS: Pearson correlations were conducted to assess the relationship between number of concussions and depressive symptoms. Independent t-tests were conducted to compare BDI-II scores between athletes and controls. The number of lifetime concussions and total scores on the BDI-II were significantly correlated (r = 0.50, p = 0.004). Upon investigating a 3-factor model of depressive symptoms (affective, cognitive, and somatic) of the BDI-II, the cognitive factor was significantly correlated with concussions (r = 0.63, p < .001). In general, NFL players endorsed more symptoms of depression on all 3 Buckley factors (affective, cognitive, and somatic) compared to controls.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that athletes having sustained concussions in early adulthood may be at a higher risk for developing depression as they age compared to the general population (particularly cognitive symptoms of depression).

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Virginia Meca Lallana	Virginia Meca Lallana has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
John Hart, MD (The University of Texas At Dallas)	The institution of Dr. Hart has received research support from Department of Defense.

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