POSTCONCUSSIONAL DISORDER AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Postconcussional disorder (PCD) has been described in the psychiatric, neurological, neuropsychological, and rehabilitation medicine literat ure for many years. PCD has recently been introduced into DSM-IV, appe aring in an appendix that contains a number of proposals for new categ ories and axes that were suggested for possible inclusion in DSM-IV. T here are some major difficulties with the proposed criteria for PCD. T his article explores some of these difficulties, particularly focusing on the criteria of loss of consciousness (LOG). A review of the liter ature demonstrates that LOC is not necessary for PCD to occur. The maj or difficulty with the DSM-IV criteria is the definition of concussion . The article suggests that, instead, the criteria for mild traumatic brain injury, as defined by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Me dicine, may be more appropriate.