Cognitive Symptoms In Patients With Posttraumatic Headache

Abstract

A variety of symptoms (postconcussion symptoms) have been consistently reported following mild head or neck injury. One symptom which may have been under reported is cognitive impairment. We conducted a retrospective study of 100 patients presenting for evaluation and treatment of posttraumatic headache at our headache clinic. Sixty-five percent reported difficulties with either memory, concentration, and/or thinking. The most common cognitive symptoms reported were concentration+memory problems, concentration + memory + thinking difficulties, concentration disturbances, and difficulty remembering, respectively. Subjects in both groups (with cognitive symptoms and without cognitive symptoms) were similar in age, but females seemed more predisposed than males to cognitive impairment following mild head injury. It is suggested that clinicians thoroughly evaluate patients for cognitive symptoms, particularly when patients have a permanent condition and are subsequently involved in litigation.

Post‐Traumatic Headache: Is It for Real? Crossfire Debates on Headache: Pro

“…It is generally thought that in the acute phase of post‐traumatic headache the associated organic changes account for the majority of symptoms, while the longer the pain prevails, the more psychosocial and psychological factors come into play 51 . Packard et al reported that 65% self‐report deficits in memory, concentration, and thinking 52 . Gfeller et al reported similar deficits in memory and concentration, but found that those patients scoring high on self‐report end up with greater deficits on formal objective neuropsychological testing 53 .…”

An Examination of the Base Rates of Post-Concussion Symptoms: The Influence of Demographics and Depression

“…Other demographic factors such as the level of education (Keyser-Marcus et al, 2002), early post-injury cognitive status (Sherer et al), and the presence of chronic pain (Lahz & Bryant, 1996) have also been found to impact MTBI recovery. With the exception of chronic pain (Carroll et al, 2004;Gfeller, Gripshover, & Chibnall, 1996;Iverson & McCracken, 1997;Packard, Weaver, & Ham, 1993;Smith-Seemiller, Fow, Kant, & Franzen, 2003) and to a lesser extent gender (Santa Maria, Pinkston, Miller, & Gouvier, 2001), which have been shown to be related to the endorsement of PCS-like symptoms, whether these other factors are directly associated with PCS-symptom endorsement in the absence of MTBI has yet to be clearly determined.…”

Posttraumatic Headache: Biopsychosocial Comparisons With Multiple Control Groups

“…General findings indicate a range of deficits including diminished rates of information processing, impaired problem‐solving ability, mental fatigue, and disturbance of long‐term and verbal memory 26 . In a study by Packard et al, 65 of 100 patients had cognitive difficulties, with problems or deficits in memory and concentration rated as the most prominent symptoms 27 …”