INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 03 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 09:30 am - 10:40 am Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma \| Neurovascular Final Abstract #58 mTBI and PAI Aggression, Anxiety, and Depression Melissa Reich-Fuehrer, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Lindsey Hildebrand, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Gabriela Franca, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Camryn Wellman, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States David Negelspach, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States William Killgore, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult) Keyword 1: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury Keyword 2: aggression Keyword 3: emotional processes Objective: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are pervasive and often go undiagnosed, however they can cause a myriad of cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms both immediately after injury and months or years into recovery. A frequently reported symptom of mTBI is emotional dysregulation, which can often present as angry outbursts, anxiety, or depression. While these symptoms can be addressed in the short-term if identified, it is unclear how long symptoms of emotional dysregulation persists after injury. We collected individual scores on aggression, anxiety, and depression scales at multiple time points after mTBI to see how the severity of these symptoms persist up to a year post-injury. Participants and Methods: This cross-sectional study included individuals recovering from a mTBI (n=113) and healthy controls (HC; n=32). To investigate the long-term effects a mTBI may have, participants were split into 5 groups determined by time since injury: 2 weeks (2W; n=11), 1 month (1M; n=21), 3 months (3M; n=26), 6 months (6M; n=21), and 12 months (12M; n=34). There were 145 participants, 56 males (M_age=26.02, SD=7.83) and 89 females (M_age=24.09, SD=6.91). Emotional dysregulation was assessed with the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), a comprehensive self-report battery that assesses individual’s personality and psychopathology. The following scale scores were analyzed to assess emotional dysregulation at different timepoints: Aggression (AGG) (Attitude, Verbal, and Physical), Anxiety (ANX) (Affective, Cognitive, and Physiological), and Depression (DEP) (Affective, Cognitive, and Physiological). Results: Comparing AGG scores across timepoints revealed no significant difference (p>.05) except for 3M post-injury (M=49.52, SD=11.39, p=.004) compared to HC’s. Subscale scores revealed that Attitude (M=47.57, SD=11.41, p=.009) and Verbal (M=51.39, SD=11.69, p=.015) aggression scores were significantly higher for the mTBI group; however Physical aggression was not (p>.05). The total score for ANX and subscales of Affective and Cognitive anxiety were not significantly different for any mTBI group (p>.05) compared to HCs. However, the 3M group reported significantly elevated Physiological anxiety (M=51.43, SD=9.42, p=.036). DEP total scores were significantly higher for all mTBI groups 1M (M=51.24, SD=9.58, p=.007), 3M (M=52.43, SD=10.59, p<.001), 6M (M=50.75, SD=12.15, p=.016), 12M (M=51.76, SD=9.62, p<.001), except at 2W (p>.05) when compared to HC’s. The Cognitive subscale scores were not significantly different from HCs for any group (p>.05). Affective subcomponent scores were non-significant for all groups except at 3M (M=51.78, SD=12.88, p=.029). Physiological depression subscores were significant for all mTBI groups 1M (M=54.00, SD=10.25, p=.002), 3M (M=54.35, SD=9.07, p<.001), 6M (M=52.80, SD=11.28, p=.010), 12M (M=56.03, SD=11.73, p<.001), except for 2W (p>.05) when compared to HCs. Conclusions: These results indicate that individuals recovering from mTBI may suffer from long-term depressive symptoms that are not present immediately after injury. The driving component of depression severity in this study population is physiological symptoms, consistent with previous research that shows that people recovering from mTBI are likely to experience an increase in sleep disturbances, decreases in appetite, and an overall lack of energy. All of these factors can greatly impact quality of life and prolong recovery, which implies that clinicians should have a more long-term approach to mTBI assessment and treatment.

Poster

02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular

Final Abstract #58

mTBI and PAI Aggression, Anxiety, and Depression

Melissa Reich-Fuehrer, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Lindsey Hildebrand, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Gabriela Franca, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Camryn Wellman, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
David Negelspach, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
William Killgore, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States

Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult)

Keyword 1: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury
Keyword 2: aggression
Keyword 3: emotional processes

Objective:

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are pervasive and often go undiagnosed, however they can cause a myriad of cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms both immediately after injury and months or years into recovery. A frequently reported symptom of mTBI is emotional dysregulation, which can often present as angry outbursts, anxiety, or depression. While these symptoms can be addressed in the short-term if identified, it is unclear how long symptoms of emotional dysregulation persists after injury. We collected individual scores on aggression, anxiety, and depression scales at multiple time points after mTBI to see how the severity of these symptoms persist up to a year post-injury.

Participants and Methods:

This cross-sectional study included individuals recovering from a mTBI (n=113) and healthy controls (HC; n=32). To investigate the long-term effects a mTBI may have, participants were split into 5 groups determined by time since injury: 2 weeks (2W; n=11), 1 month (1M; n=21), 3 months (3M; n=26), 6 months (6M; n=21), and 12 months (12M; n=34). There were 145 participants, 56 males (M_age=26.02, SD=7.83) and 89 females (M_age=24.09, SD=6.91). Emotional dysregulation was assessed with the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), a comprehensive self-report battery that assesses individual’s personality and psychopathology. The following scale scores were analyzed to assess emotional dysregulation at different timepoints: Aggression (AGG) (Attitude, Verbal, and Physical), Anxiety (ANX) (Affective, Cognitive, and Physiological), and Depression (DEP) (Affective, Cognitive, and Physiological).

Results:

Comparing AGG scores across timepoints revealed no significant difference (p>.05) except for 3M post-injury (M=49.52, SD=11.39, p=.004) compared to HC’s. Subscale scores revealed that Attitude (M=47.57, SD=11.41, p=.009) and Verbal (M=51.39, SD=11.69, p=.015) aggression scores were significantly higher for the mTBI group; however Physical aggression was not (p>.05). The total score for ANX and subscales of Affective and Cognitive anxiety were not significantly different for any mTBI group (p>.05) compared to HCs. However, the 3M group reported significantly elevated Physiological anxiety (M=51.43, SD=9.42, p=.036). DEP total scores were significantly higher for all mTBI groups 1M (M=51.24, SD=9.58, p=.007), 3M (M=52.43, SD=10.59, p<.001), 6M (M=50.75, SD=12.15, p=.016), 12M (M=51.76, SD=9.62, p<.001), except at 2W (p>.05) when compared to HC’s. The Cognitive subscale scores were not significantly different from HCs for any group (p>.05). Affective subcomponent scores were non-significant for all groups except at 3M (M=51.78, SD=12.88, p=.029). Physiological depression subscores were significant for all mTBI groups 1M (M=54.00, SD=10.25, p=.002), 3M (M=54.35, SD=9.07, p<.001), 6M (M=52.80, SD=11.28, p=.010), 12M (M=56.03, SD=11.73, p<.001), except for 2W (p>.05) when compared to HCs.

Conclusions:

These results indicate that individuals recovering from mTBI may suffer from long-term depressive symptoms that are not present immediately after injury. The driving component of depression severity in this study population is physiological symptoms, consistent with previous research that shows that people recovering from mTBI are likely to experience an increase in sleep disturbances, decreases in appetite, and an overall lack of energy. All of these factors can greatly impact quality of life and prolong recovery, which implies that clinicians should have a more long-term approach to mTBI assessment and treatment.