Pediatric Reflections: Winter 2023
Published on in Children's Doctor
Published on in Children's Doctor
Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, is senior fellow with the CHOP Center for Injury Research and Prevention, and Jamie Shoop, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist in the Minds Matter Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Caring for a teen after concussion requires attention not only to their physical and academic needs but also to their social and emotional well-being. Our Minds Matter Concussion Program recently published a paper exploring anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents with concussion, highlighting the importance of addressing youth mental health to support concussion recovery.
We collected data from a group of teens ages 13 to 18 years who sustained a concussion within 28 days of their clinical visit to the Minds Matter Concussion Program in the Sports Medicine Clinic. Teens completed the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS), standardized measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms across different clinical populations. Notably, more than one-third of the concussed adolescents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression that were above normal limits. This suggests that many teens with concussion have mental health needs that warrant further support.
The Minds Matter Concussion Program strives to care for the whole child in its comprehensive approach to concussion management. Here are some helpful tips clinicians can use to promote mental health and wellness for teens with concussion:
Clinicians working with teens should encourage open communication about emotional health and wellness, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Doing so can help ensure that teens get the support they need managing the stressors they face after injury.
Learn more on this topic at the Minds Matter Concussion Conference: New Frontiers, a CME set for March 15, 2023, at CHOP. Register here.
Subscribe to the CHOP Minds Matter e-Newsletter here:
Categories: Children's Doctor Winter 2023, Pediatric Reflections