DOES PREMORBID DEPRESSION INFLUENCE POST-CONCUSSIVE SYMPTOMS AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

We examined the contribution of premorbid affective disturbance to per sistent post-concussive symptoms and neuropsychological functioning fo llowing a mild traumatic brain injury. No differences were observed on self-reported post-concussive symptoms, MMPI scales, or neuropsycholo gical measures between two case-matched soups of patients with and wit hout a history of pre-injury depression. Clinicians are urged to use c aution in attributing post-concussive symptoms or neuropsychological d eficits to the presence of a pre-existing affective disorder.