Persistent post-concussive syndrome: A proposed methodology and literaturereview to determine the effects, if any, of mild head and other bodily injury

Following mild head injury, a subgroup of individuals exhibit a constellati on of chronic symptoms, a condition Alexander(1995) labeled Persistent Post -Concussive Syndrome (PPCS). He implicated neurological factors in the init ial phase of the syndrome but psychological factors in the maintenance of s ymptoms. However, it is unclear as to whether an initial mild head injury i s necessary or sufficient to cause the symptoms of PPCS. We first outline a study design comparing a mild closed-head injury group to both a normal an d an other injury control group to answer this question. Next, we review th e literature since 1960 to determine the findings of any studies using this design. The results of the literature review indicate that few such studie s exist. To date, those that have been done suggest that there is no strong evidence for a specific effect for mild head injury on cognitive functioni ng. We discuss directions for future research given these findings.